Chemical composition of milk from goats fed with cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica L. Miller) in substitution to corn meal

The effect of corn meal substitution by cactus pear on the chemical analysis and fatty acid profile of goat milk was analyzed. Ten Alpine lactating goats (40 ± 6 kg) were allocated as two Latin squares (5 × 5) into five treatments (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) and five 15-day periods. The milk sampling used for the analysis was done in the three last days of each trial period. While other constituents remained unchanged (P > 0.05), there was a linear reduction (P < 0.05) in lipid contents and total solids in milk with the substitution of corn meal by cactus pear, with values ranging from 3.8 to 3.0% and from 12.1 to 10.8%, respectively, The saturated fatty acids percentage (SFA) increased linearly (P < 0.05), while the monounsaturated fatty acids concentration (MUFA) decreased linearly (P < 0.05), with values ranging from 62.8 to 71.9, and from 26.7 to 16.1%, respectively. The corn meal substitution by cactus pear reduced the ether extract of the diet with influences in the physicochemical quality of the goat milk, leading to a depression in fat, total solids, monounsaturated fatty acids and desirable fatty acids concentration.