Agave As Fodder for the Future of the World's Arid Zones

The lack of fodder is a national and global problem that demands urgent attention. The quality and availability of groundwater is deteriorating, and its extraction is becoming increasingly complex. This creates production inequalities at various scales. As part of a holistic solution, the “Billion Agave Project (BAP)”, a project of Regeneration International, promotes agave as a pioneer species: a plant with extremely high water resilience that can survive with minimal water inputs and from which multiple high-value derivatives are obtained for national and international markets. The goal is to create local jobs, restore degraded arid areas for the benefit of flora and fauna, and promote agroforestry systems that intercalate agaves, grasses, and trees.

Agroforestry management for trees, agaves, and fields.

The potential of agave as fodder: When comparing agave with conventional fodders (corn silage, alfalfa, oats, sorghum), the economic and water costs of these latter options are significantly higher. For this reason, the BAP project promotes the use of agave as a fodder base, especially in water-stressed regions.

Context in Mexico:

40% of the national territory is arid, and much of the remaining 60% meets the agro-climatic conditions to grow agave.
Nearly 90% of agave species are endemic to Mexico.
Industries like tequila and mezcal generate large volumes of waste (bagasse and harvest leaves) that can be used in livestock.

For over 8 years BAP has assessed agave species used in various industries , feeding ruminants, laying hens, pigs, and rabbits, in collaboration with producers and organizations.
In Mexico, there are more than 50 million head of cattle in various systems: 80% rural livestock, 10% dairy, and 10% intensive. During the rainy season, fodder is abundant; in winter, some producers preserve pastures, but during droughts, most are forced to sell animals due to a lack of food, water, and supplies. Agave can solve these crises.

How much water do agaves contain?

As a water source for livestock, there are two main groups:

Pulque agaves: Agave mapisaga, Agave salmiana var. salmiana, Agave weberi. On average, their silage provides ~800 ml of water per kilo of ground material (heartpineapple or leaf).
Distilled agaves: Agave salmiana var. crassispina, Agave tequilana Weber, Agave angustifolia (espadín). On average, 200–300 ml/kg of ground agave.

During drought, chopped green or silage agave provides fiber, sugars, nutrients, and water. If supplemented with cacti (fiber and water), prickly pear (sugars), and available pasture (fiber for the rumen), producers reduce the need to sell animals and maintain annual operations.

Nutritional Benefits:

Plants absorb macronutrients and micronutrients from the soil. Agave particularly demands calcium, and bromatological analysis shows high contents that are useful for balancing salts and minerals. There are notable differences in sugars:

Pulque agaves: 13–16 Brix degrees.
Distilled (tequilana, espadín): 30–40 Brix degrees.
Agave contains 6% to 8% crude protein, whereas:
Alfalfa contains 16% to 18% crude protein.
Corn silage contains 8% to 10% crude protein.
Mesquite flour contains 15% crude protein.

The data highlighted in blue represent the number of agave leaves that can be cut per plant per year for each species.

These sugars provide fermentable energy for the rumen, supporting protein synthesis and weight gain.

Each system must adjust its portions according to the species, productive goals, and physiological stage. As a guideline, it is feasible to formulate diets with 65% – 75% silage based on agave, adjusting the rest with local forages and supplements.

Advantages of agave silage:

High availability of raw material, including waste from industries. For example, when harvesting a hectare of tequila agave, around 90 tons of usable leaves may remain in the field.
It can be supplied green (chopped leaves) or ensiled. Silage improves digestibility, palatability, and preservation of water, minerals, starches, and fibers.
Life Spam: in a closed system, up to 24 months; once opened, it is best consumed within 30 days.

In our project, the basic diet for sheep includes 85% agave silage, complemented with a little local straw and alfalfa for breeding females, along with what they graze. For 30 sheep, we prepare 50 barrels of 220 liters each per week, ensuring feed for the entire year.

How to prepare agave silage:

Define the species and daily food requirements for maintenance/production.
Select agave species adapted to your area; avoid introducing non-adapted varieties.
Prune 15% to 20% of the leaves per plant annually, starting from the second to third year, ensuring enough leaves for photosynthesis. The percentage depends on the species and age.
Grind the leaves, tearing the fibers to promote sugar extraction and uniform fermentation. Ideal particle size: 1.5–2.5 inches.
Place the ground material in airtight containers and ferment for 45–50 days. Before sealing, add a 1 cm layer of sea salt to improve fermentation and prevent mold.
Gradually incorporate the silage: start with 15% of the portion for 3 days, increasing by 10% every three days until reaching the target percentage.
Work with local farmers and encourage agave planting in agroforestry systems.

Bromatological analysis of some of the most representative and widely used agave species in the industry are shown on the table.

Conclusion:
Integrated into agroforestry systems with management and extraction plans, agave is a great feed option for rural livestock and an alternative for intensive livestock, as it reduces input costs (including fertilizers) and water costs. Planting agave to feed animals while reserving crops like corn for human diets is a resilient strategy for the future of arid zones.