Animal Feed Science and Technology 149 (2009) 333–340 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Animal Feed Science and Technology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/anifeedsci Short communication Ruminal fermentation of spiny (Opuntia amyclae) and spineless (Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis) cactus cladodes and diets including cactus S. Abidi a , H. Ben Salem a,∗ , A.I. Martín-García b , E. Molina-Alcaide b a Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique de Tunisie (INRAT), Laboratoire des Productions Animales et Fourragères, rue Hédi Karray, 2049 Ariana, Tunisia b Unidad de Nutrición Animal, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), Profesor Albareda, 1, 18008 Granada, Spain article info Article history: Received 27 April 2007 Received in revised form 28 April 2008 Accepted 25 June 2008 Keywords: Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis Opuntia amyclae Cladodes Nutritive value Ruminal fermentation abstract Ruminal fermentation of spineless Opuntia ficus indica f. iner- mis, OFI) and spiny (Opuntia amyclae, OA) cactus cladodes and of diets including them was determined in glass syringes and single-flow continuous culture fermenters, respectively. The OFI and OA chemical composition and gas production were similar. Two iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic diets composed of bar- ley straw, OFI (OFI-diet) or OA (OA-diet), Atriplex nummularia L., a mineral–vitamin mixture, and urea were supplied to four single-flow continuous culture fermenters. Digested carbohydrates (DCHO), volatile fatty acids (VFA) output and efficiency, non- ammonia (NAN) and bacterial N output and efficiency were similar (P>0.05) for OFI- and OA-diets. We conclude that OFI and OA had similar nutritive value. In vivo studies are needed to confirm current results. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Abbreviations: ADFom, acid detergent fiber expressed exclusive of residual ash; Lignin (sa), lignin determined by solu- bilization of cellulose with sulphuric acid; CHO, carbohydrates; CP, crude protein; DCHO, digested carbohydrates; DM, dry matter; EB, effluent bacteria; EE, ether extract; EMPS, efficiency of microbial protein synthesis; LAB, liquid associated bacteria; ME, metabolisable energy; NAN, non-ammonia N; aNDFom, neutral detergent fiber assayed with a heat stable amylase and expressed exclusive of residual ash; OA, cladodes of Opuntia amyclae; OFI, cladodes of Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis; OM, organic matter; PB, purine bases; PBN, purine bases nitrogen; SAB, solid associated bacteria; VFA, total volatile fatty acids. ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +216 71 230 024; fax: +216 71 231 592. E-mail address: bensalem.hichem@iresa.agrinet.tn (H. Ben Salem). 0377-8401/$ – see front matter © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2008.06.006