Abstract :
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.
