Rainfall variability affects the chemical composition, gas production and degradability of cacti

Objective. The objective was to evaluate the effect of rainfall variability on the chemical composition, in vitro degradability and gas production of cacti in Semiarid region. Materials and methods. A completely randomized experimental design in a factorial arrangement of 2 rainfall periods (high and low rainfall) x 5 cactus species, with 5 replications was adopted. Cacti evaluated were Pilosocereus gounellei (Weber ex K. Schum). Bly ex Rowl, Cereus jamacaru DC., Opuntia ficus indica Mill, Nopalea cochenillifera Salm. Dyck and Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw, all fresh. Results. There was an interaction between rainfall variation and cactus species for dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber (p