Chemical composition of spiny cactus cladodes (Opuntia ficus indica f. amyclae) under age and collection period effect in Northern Morocco

In Northern Morocco, goat herd is the most dominant. His feeding is based on forest rangelands and characterized by strong seasonal variability responsible of the low productivity. Feed improvement is necessary. Cactus cladodes represent an available resource that can take their place in goat feeding. In order to introduce them, it is necessary to characterize their chemical composition. This work aims to determine the chemical composition of cactus cladodes according to age and collection period. Twenty four samples of young and old cactus were collected in three places in Tangier in four periods (April to June). In the laboratory, measurement parameters of cladodes were determined and samples were dried in oven at 60°C and subsequently ground and sieved to 1 mm diameter. The studied composition parameters were dry matter, ash, crude protein, ether extract, fibers and phenolic compounds. The chemical composition of these samples was determined by the methods of AOAC (1997). From results, age affected morphological measurements with superiority of mature cladodes (P<0.001). Length and width increased significantly with time (P<0.001). However, thickness and weight were similar in all periods. Nutritional quality of cladodes decreased significantly with ageing. Ash and fibers were lower and protein, moisture, fat and phenolic compounds were higher in young cladodes. Collection period affected moisture, protein, crude fiber, ADF and condensed tannins. Except ADF, these affected parameters decreased by time. In conclusion, cladodes have interesting chemical composition especially young cladodes that allowed them to be incorporated in ruminant feed diet.