Nutrient intake and utilization in crossbred heifers fed opuntia [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.] supplemented diet

The nutritive value of opuntia [(Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.] as a replacer of conventional green fodder M P Chari in the wheat straw-based diet of crossbred (Tharparkar x Jersey) heifers was assessed. The control diet consisted of chopped (2-5 cm) M P Chari green (8.76 kg) plus 1.61 kg concentrate (T1) and the experimental diet consisted of chopped (5–8 cm) Opuntia cladodes of spineless opuntia (9.24 kg) plus 1.58 kg concentrate (T2), along with wheat straw ad libitum in both groups. DM intake as a percent of body weight or g/kg metabolic body size was similar in both groups, indicating that replacement of MP chari with opuntia did not affect DM intake. The apparent digestibility of DM, OM and CP was lower (p