Addition of increasing doses of ricinoleic acid from castor oil (<i>Ricinus communis</i> L.) in diets of Nellore steers in feedlots

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and blood parameters of feedlot Nellore cattle fed increasing doses of ricinoleic acid (RA) in the diet. Ninety-six Nellore steers divided into 12 groups of 8 animals were used. The animals were randomly assigned to four treatments: 0, 1, 2, or 4 g of RA/animal/day, with three replicates per treatment. The experimental period consisted of 84 days divided into three 28-day periods preceded by three step-up diets. A quadratic effect was found for average daily gain and final body weight, as well as for leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, and for urea and blood urea nitrogen. A linear effect was observed for albumin, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyl transferase. The inclusion of 2 g of RA daily improved the performance of feedlot Nellore steers.

Productive performance of simmental dairy cows supplemented with ricinoleic acid from castor oil

“…For urea and blood urea nitrogen, values were observed for diets with RA, suggesting increased protein deamination in rumen. This decrease in the concentrations of urea and BUN supplemented with RA is consistent with the results obtained by (Gandra et al 2012).…”

“…Considering the data obtained in this experiment and Gandra et al (2012), supported in the literature it can be stated that the RA has a promising future in ruminant nutrition, as a modulator of ruminal fermentation promoting increased performance, but more study should be conducted in order to elucidate the precise metabolism rumimal involving deamination rates and production of methane and short chain fatty acid.…”

“…The results described in the literature on the influence of essential oils on the DMI, are inconclusive and unsafe due to the fact that commercial products are composed of mixtures of various plant extracts, moreover the data presented by RA are more satisfactory and concrete due the fact that the final product is composed of only the fatty acids of castor oil and its reducing effect on DMI, has already been reported by (Gandra et al, 2012).…”

“…RA is very similar to oleic acid, the only difference being a hydroxyl group present in RA and absent in oleic acid. For this reason, RA is also called hydroxyoleic acid (Gandra et al, 2012).…”

“…In order to explore the antimicrobial properties of RA, the objective of this study was to evaluate the dry matter intake, milk yield and composition and blood parameters of Simmental dairy cow supplemented with 2 g/day of RA in the diet, in according with recommendations of (Gandra et al, 2012).…”