Use of castor meal (Ricinus communis L.) as a source of dietary protein in goats during the mating period: impact on reproductive and metabolic responses

Abstract

Use of castor meal (Ricinus communisL AbstractThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the total substitution of soybean meal with castor meal, detoxified or non-detoxified, on the response to estrous synchronization, conception rate, early fetal development, presence of IgG, and metabolic-hormonal response. Sixty mixed goats were fed diets without castor meal (WCM), with detoxified castor meal (DCM), and with castor meal (CM) during early pregnancy. The goats had their estrous synchronized and were then submitted to the mating season. The number of fetuses was determined by ultrasonography after 25 days of mating and their development was followed until 60 days of gestation. Plasma levels of progesterone (P 4 ), liver enzymes, and urea were determined along with the evaluation of the immunological response. After 15 days of experimental feeding, immunoglobulin G (IgG) was detected by western blotting only in goats that received non-detoxified castor meal. There was no effect (p > 0.05) of type of diet on response to estrous synchronization, plasma P 4 levels, conception rate, or embryonic/fetal development. In pregnant goats, there was an effect of diet (p < 0.001) on plasma urea levels in multiple-birth pregnancy, gammaglutamyltransferase (GGT) in single-birth pregnancy, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in both types of pregnancy. In non-pregnant goats, there were increased urea levels in all types of diets and in LDH in WCM goats, but GGT levels decreased in the WCM and CM goats when compared with pregnant goats (p > 0.05). In addition, plasma levels of LDH in WCM goats and of urea in all types of diet were higher in non-pregnant goats than pregnant goats. In conclusion, it can be inferred that the inclusion of 15% castor meal, whether or not it is detoxified, to the diet of goats does not affect the reproductive performance, embryonic and early fetal development, or blood metabolites. ResumoO objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da substituição total do farelo de soja por farelo de mamona detoxificado ou não sobre a resposta à sincronização do estro, taxa de concepção, desenvolvimento fetal inicial, presença de IgG e resposta metabólica-hormonal. Sessenta cabras mestiças foram alimentadas sem farelo de mamona (SFM), com farelo de mamona detoxificado (FMD) e com farelo de mamona (FM) durante a gestação inicial. Todos os animais tiveram o estro sincronizado e depois foram acasaladas por monta natural. A partir do 25º dia após a monta, foi determinado o número de fetos e realizado o acompanhado do desenvolvimento dos mesmos por ultrassonografia até os 60 dias de gestação. Foi avaliado o perfil de progesterona (P 4 ), os níveis de metabólitos e a resposta imunológica. A partir do 15º dia de alimentação a imunoglobulina G (IgG) foi marcada através da técnica de Western Blotting, apenas em animais que receberam farelo de mamona não detoxificado. Não houve efeito (p>0,05) do tipo de dieta sobre a resposta à sincronização do estro, níveis plasmáticos de P 4 , taxa de gestação e desenvo...

Effect of feeding of sorghum stover based complete feed blocks containing guar meal as protein supplement on reproductive efficiency, hormone profile and antioxidant status in Deccani ewes

“…Further it was also observed that there was no significant (P>0.05) difference in progesterone concentration among the ewes fed conventional diet (S1) and complete feed blocks (S2 and S3). These results are in agreement with previous studies [ 21 , 22 , 36 ], who reported that there was no effect on progesterone profile by replacement of conventional protein supplements with unconventional protein supplements like detoxified castor seed meal or DDGS or Nigella Sativa meal.…”

“…In agreement with the present findings, Silva et al . (2015) [ 36 ] also observed no significant (P>0.05) effect on gestation length, lambing rate and litter size when ewes fed the castor seed meal or detoxified castor meal. Abdalla et al .…”

Spermatogenesis in sheep supplemented with detoxified castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) as a replacement for soybean meal

“…There are few reports on effects of using detoxified castor bean cake in animal feed, especially on spermatogenesis. However, some studies evaluated the reproductive performance of females and suggested that using detoxified castor bean cake does not change the reproductive performance in sheep and goats (Silva et al, 2014;Silva et al, 2015). These reports corroborate the results of present study, which showed that using detoxified castor bean cake did not affect spermatogenesis in sheep.…”

“…One of the alternative to reduce the cost of animal feed is via the use of byproducts of biofuel production. Silva et al (2015) proposed castor beans to be one of the most suitable oilseeds for the production of biofuel in northeastern Brazil, because of their ability to produce in water shortage, can be used in consortium with other crops, and in family farming production systems, besides being popular with consumers and therefore having high market value. Sub-products of castor bean obtained after oil extraction can potentially be used in the preparation of animal feed, because of their considerable protein content, low cost, and ease of use (Sousa et al, 2017).…”

Biofuel Production with Castor Bean: A Win–Win Strategy for Marginal Land

“…For instance, it can be detoxified with calcium oxide replacing up to 50% of soybean meal in lambs' diet [127] and reducing the production costs in a beef cattle grazing system [130]. Furthermore, up to 15% non-detoxified CB meal can be used in goat feed [131]. Castor bean can also be considered an ecofriendly and economic alternative to synthetic insecticidal agents (e.g., against Spodotpera frugiperda, Spodoptera littoralis, Musca domestica, and Phlebotomus duboscqi, the Leishmania vector) [132][133][134][135].…”