The Opuntia effect and the Reactivation of Ovarian Function and Blood Metabolite Concentrations of Anestrous Goats Exposed to Active Males

Abstract

The effect of protein enriched Opuntia cladodes supplementation upon changes of serum total protein, urea, cholesterol, glucose as related to estrus induction (EI%), estrus latency (EL, h), and ovulation rate (OR, units) in adult anestrous goats exposed to the male effect was evaluated. In late April, anestrus goats (n = 45, 25° N) homogeneous regarding live weight (LE; 43.8 ± 1.6 kg) and body condition score (BCS; 2.3 ± 0.1 units) were randomly assigned to: (1). Protein-enriched Opuntia (PEO; n = 15; 29.8% CP, 2.2 Mcal ME kg−1), (2). Non-enriched Opuntia (NEO; n = 15; 6.4% CP, 2.1 Mcal ME kg−1), and (3). Control (CON; n = 15). NEO and PEO goats were individually supplemented with cladodes (160 g d−1; 0900–1000 h), thereafter all groups grazed in a marginal rangeland (1000–1800 h). Neither LW (p > 0.05) nor BCS (p > 0.05) differed among groups, yet an increased (p < 0.05) EI % (100, 57, 42 ± 0.16%), EL h (62, 60, 32 ± 4.2 h), and OR (1.33, 0.71, 0.43 ± 0.23 units) occurred in PEO and NEO vs. CONT, respectively. However, neither blood metabolites differed among groups nor a treatment x time interaction occurred. Peri-breeding protein enriched Opuntia cladodes supplementation of anestrous goats exposed to active males increased (p < 0.01) reproductive outcomes during the non-breeding season.

The Opuntia Effect Improves Dam-Kid Metabolic Markers, Augments Colostrum Quality and Enhances Kid-To-Dam Behavioral Interactions in Crossbred Goats and their Offspring under Semiarid-Rangeland Conditions

“…Interestingly, CP increases have been generated throughout a fermentation process of protein enrichment of Opuntia cladodes, from 12.8% (Aspergillus niger) [17], up to significant CP increases superior to 200% (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) [18]. Previous studies of our group demonstrated a positive out-of-season the effect in goats supplemented with protein-enriched Opuntia cladodes (i.e., the "Opuntia effect"), not only regarding estrus induction, estrus latency, and ovulation rate [19], but also upon corpus luteum number and diameter, as well as on embryo implantation rate [20]. Building on such ideas, our next step was to test the hypothesis that targeted supplementation of protein-enriched Opuntia megacantha Salm-Dyck cladodes during the last month of pregnancy and early lactation would improve the dam's glucose concentrations, augmenting both quality and quantity of colostrum and milk, as well as the kid metabolic status, and enhancing the kid-to-dam bonding behavior in low-input, rangeland-based goat production systems under semiarid conditions.…”

“…Goats consumed the available natural pasture and occasionally corn crop residues; they grazed daily from 10:00 a.m. to 06:00 p.m. and were penned at evening, with free access to mineral salts and water. The goatherd was managed according to the traditional procedures exerted by marginal goat producers in northern Mexico [19].…”

“…dose of 1 mL of prostaglandin F 2 analog (0.075 mg of D-cloprostenol/goat; Prosolvin-C, Intervet International B.V., Boxmeer, The Netherlands). Thereafter, 26 days prior to the expected date of kidding, goats were randomly assigned into three experimental groups (n = 10, each) homogeneously regarding live weight (LW; 55.9 ± 1.03 kg) and body condition score (BCS; 2.5 ± 0.2 points) in a 1-4 scale (1: emaciated to 4: obese) [19,20]; the experimental groups were (1) protein-enriched Opuntia (PEO; 29.9% CP, 2.3 Mcal ME kg −1 ), (2) non-enriched Opuntia (NEO; 6.5% CP, 1.9 Mcal ME kg −1 ), and (3) control (CON; non-supplemented). PEO and NEO groups were individually supplemented in small buckets with Opuntia cladodes (250 g goat −1 day −1 ; 09:00-10:00 a.m., 25 days pre-and 15 days post-partum).…”

“…The experimental group PEO considered the protein enrichment of cladodes throughout a semisolid fermentative process previously described [19]. Briefly, small slices of Opuntia cladodes were mixed and inoculated with Scharomyces cereveciae (1%), urea (1%), and ammonium sulfate (0.1%) in a bioreactor (NOPAFER-R, no.…”

Reproduction in Small Ruminants (Goats)

“…As in sheep, the age of the corpus luteum and, therefore, the day of the cycle in which PGF2α is administered determines the degree of synchronization obtained and the time required for the heat to appear, the LH peak and the ovulation [17]. Several studies indicate that goats treated on day 6 of the cycle go into heat and show an LH peak much earlier than those treated on day 12 [18,19].…”