Effect of spineless-cactus mucilage on the in vitro rumen fermentation of cellulose, starch, and protein

SUMMARY The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the levels of spineless-cactus mucilage on the in vitro rumen fermentation of cellulose, starch, and protein. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted with a 5 × 3 factorial arrangement consisting of five levels of spineless-cactus mucilage (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40%) and three substrates (carboxymethylcellulose, starch, and trypticase). Treatments were evaluated in a ruminal environment simulated by in vitro incubation at different times of assessment: 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. The incubation procedure was repeated three times, totaling three evaluations per incubation time for each treatment. There was an interaction (P