The inclusion of cactus pear changes the fermentation process, chemical composition and aerobic stability of arboreal cotton silages

The objective was to evaluate the fermentation process, nutritional quality, and aerobic stability of mixed silages of arboreal cotton and cactus pear. This was a completely randomized design, with five levels of inclusion of cactus pear (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60%) in the arboreal cotton silage and four replications per treatment, totaling 20 experimental units. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression at a 5% probability level for type I error. The inclusion of cactus pear resulted in increased losses from gases (P<0.001), effluents (P<0.001), buffering capacity (P<0.001), aerobic stability (P = 0.010), and pH upward trend (P<0.001). There was a decreasing linear effect on dry matter recovery (P<0.001), pH (P<0.001), ammonia nitrogen (P <0.001), the maximum difference in the temperature of the silage in relation to the environment (P = 0.005) and maximum pH (P<0.001) of silages. The inclusion of cactus pear affected the maximum temperature (P<0.001) of silages in a quadratic way. There was a decreasing linear effect of dry matter (P<0.001), ether extract (P<0.001), Organic matter (P<0,001), crude protein (P = 0,002) and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (P = 0.030). The use of cactus pear promoted an increasing linear effect for the levels of mineral matter (MM) (P<0.001), corresponding to an increase of 0,271%, for each 1% inclusion of cactus pear. The increase in the proportions of cactus pear in the silages promoted an increasing linear effect for mineral matter (P<0,001). The inclusion of cactus pear by up to 60% in arboreal cotton silages alters the fermentation profile with increased fermentation losses and nutritional reduction. However, it still presents characteristics of good quality silages.