Nutritional Profile and In Sacco Dry Matter Degradability of Spineless Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Varieties in Arid Karoo, South Africa

African Journal of Agriculture | Vol. 13, No. 8, August 2026 | pp. 162–169

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000754

Article Type: Original Research Article

Title: Nutritional Profile and In Sacco Dry Matter Degradability of Spineless Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Varieties in Arid Karoo, South Africa

Names of Authors: Willem J. Viljoen¹, Hendrik P. Pretorius¹

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Abstract: Severe recurrent droughts in South Africa’s arid Karoo region routinely lead to rangeland depletion and livestock starvation. Spineless cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) varieties offer an emergency forage and water source for ruminants during dry seasons, but their precise nutritional profiles require systematic characterization. This study evaluated the proximate chemical composition, mineral profile, and in sacco dry matter degradability (DMD) of four spineless cactus pear cultivars (Morado, Fresno, Skinner, and Algerian). Rumen-cannulated Merino wethers (n = 4; body weight 46.5 ± 1.2 kg) were utilized to determine in sacco degradability kinetics at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Proximate analysis revealed high moisture (88.4% to 91.2%) and ash (16.2% to 18.5% DM base) contents across all cultivars. Crude protein content was low, ranging from 4.82% in Skinner to 6.24% in Algerian. Cultivar Algerian recorded the highest soluble carbohydrate fraction and the lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDF) value (32.4%). In sacco DMD analysis demonstrated that Algerian achieved the highest effective degradability (78.4% at a passage rate of 0.05/hour). The potential degradable fraction correlated negatively with NDF accumulation. This study establishes that while Opuntia ficus-indica is a valuable energy and water supplement, it must be paired with a protein concentrate to balance ruminant maintenance diets.

Keywords: Opuntia ficus-indica, In sacco degradability, Arid zones, Ruminant nutrition, Chemical composition, Forage security

Manuscript Timeline: Received: June 18, 2026; Revised: July 20, 2026; Accepted: August 11, 2026; Published: August 31, 2026

Citation: Viljoen, W. J., & Pretorius, H. P. (2026). Nutritional Profile and In Sacco Dry Matter Degradability of Spineless Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) Varieties in Arid Karoo, South Africa. African Journal of Agriculture, 13(8), 162–169. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJA/000754

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