Nutritive and Chemical Composition and In Vitro Digestibility of Cladodes of the Opuntia Species

Sixteen cultivars (three resistant species and thirteen susceptible to cochineal insects) were included in the experiment evaluate their nutritional chemical compositions determine vitro digestibility of cladodes Opuntia species. Cultivars showed highly significant (p < 0.001) differences composition. The cultivars’ content ash, crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM), organic (OM), (IVDMD), (IVOMD), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral (NDF) Cell (cellulose) varied, with ranges 8.18–22.75%, 3.19–10.40%, 86.40–91.88%, 77.45–91.82%, 68.25–87.3%, 55.81–78.95%, 14.88–26.15%, 29.66–67.05% 10.99–19.92%, respectively. ash a negative correlation OM (r = −1.00; p 0.001), IVDMD −0.603; DOMD −0.904; Garao, Aloqa O. robusta var. X11 highest similarities, as they are found close first branch dendrogram. In total, 90% variation among traits was attributed four PCs, 55.97% two principal components (PCs). composition greater than or equal ones.