Meat quality assessment from young goats fed for long periods with castor de-oiled cake

Palm kernel cake in high-concentrate diets improves animal performance without affecting the meat quality of goat kids

Context Goat farming is an important socio-economic activity. The feedlot system allows the finishing of the animals in short periods through use of concentrated diets; however, these diets increase the system’s production costs. Palm kernel cake (PKC) has proved to be a good alternative feed source in diets for cattle and sheep because of its nutritional characteristics and potential to reduce production costs. Aim This experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of high-concentrate diets with the inclusion of PKC on carcass traits and meat quality of feedlot goat kids. Methods Thirty-two crossbred, castrated Boer goat kids, 4 months old and of average initial body weight 19.65±3.00kg, were used in the study. The animals were assigned to treatments in a completely randomised design, with four experimental diets containing PKC at 0%, 12%, 24%, and 36% on a dry matter basis. Measurements included total weight gain at slaughter, quantitative and sensory meat characteristics, and fatty acid profile. Key results A quadratic effect (P<0.05) on total weight gain, and on meat marbling, lightness, and yellowness, was observed. The highest total weight gain and marbling were recorded with the diet containing 12% PKC. Loin eye area was also highest at 12% PKC, then decreased, whereas protein content and shear force increased (P<0.05) at the higher PKC levels. Diet affected (P<0.05) saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. No effect was observed from the inclusion of PKC on sensory attributes or on nutritional quality of the lipid fraction of the meat. Conclusion It is recommended the use up to 12% of this alternative source of nutrients, owing to the higher total weight gain and improved quantitative aspects of the goat kids’ meat such as marbling and loin eye area. Implications High-concentrate diets and the use of by-products for animal nutrition have become common in animal production systems. The increasing use of PKC in animal nutrition leads us to determine the best dietary inclusion level, avoiding undesirable production or product quality characteristics.

Animal performance, ingestive behavior, and carcass characteristics of grazing-finished steers supplemented with castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) meal protein

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal by castor bean meal on nutrient intake, digestibility, animal performance, ingestive behavior activities, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid profile from steers finished in pasture. Crossbred steers were weighed to determine the initial body weight (331.6 ± 37.4 kg), which were kept in 4 paddocks (8 animals/paddock), on pastures of Brachiaria decumbens during the finishing phase. Dietary treatments included CC00-without castor bean meal; CC33-153 g/kg of castor bean meal; CC66-308 g/kg of castor bean meal; and CC100-434 g/kg of castor bean meal. No treatment effects were detected (P > 0.05) for final body weight, average daily gain, feed efficiency, and hot carcass weight. The DM, CP, NDF, and NFC total intake were lowest (P < 0.01) for steers fed CC100 diet than others. No treatment effects were detected (P > 0.05) for digestibility. For ingestive behavior activities, data on DM and NDF from feeding rate were greater (P < 0.01) in CC00 v. castor bean meal steers. DM and NDF from rumination rate were greater (P < 0.01) in CC33 v. CC100 steers that was the lowest. Carcass measures, carcass composition, chemical composition of Longissimus thoracis muscle, and profile and the sum of fatty acids were not affected (P > 0.05) by castor bean meal replacement on the diets. Results from this experiment suggest that castor bean meal may replace soybean meal in pasture supplementation without altered digestibility, carcass characteristics, and fatty acid profile.

Metabolic stress and reproductive features in post-partum goats supplemented for a long period with detoxified castor meal as the source of dietary nitrogen

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of detoxified castor meal on the reproductive performance, metabolic stress, milk production, and kid development in peripartum goats. The diet of the animals were with (DCM, n= 20) or without (WDCM, n= 21) detoxified castor meal during the entire gestation and until weaning, 60 days post-birth. No differences were observed in the gestation period, litter size, rate of multiple births, and mortality between the two groups. The postpartum plasma concentrations of progesterone remained below 1ng/mL in all animals, thus, confirming the absence of active corpora lutea. The thickness of sternum adipose tissue and loin area, levels of urea and cholesterol, milk production, and daily weight gain in the kids were low in the DCM group when compared to those in the WDCM group (P< 0.05). To conclude, the use of detoxified castor meal in peripartum goats resulted in lower level of performance in the kids because of reductions in the amount of milk received from their mothers during lactation. In addition, the diet containing detoxified castor meals was not efficient in recovering from the loss of stored body reserves able to initiate the recovery of the cyclic activity of the goats.

Effects of naturally-produced lovastatin on carcass characteristics, muscle physico-chemical properties and lipid oxidation and cholesterol content in goats

This study investigated the carcass characteristics, physico-chemical properties, storage stability and cholesterol content of meat from goats fed with different levels of naturally-produced lovastatin used to mitigate enteric methane production. Twenty intact Saanen male goats of 5-6 months old with initial live weight of 25.8 ± 4.0 kg were randomly allotted into four dietary treatments containing 0 (Control), 2 (Low), 4 (Medium) and 6 mg (High) per kg live weight (LW) of naturally-produced lovastatin for 12 consecutive weeks. No differences were found in all the parameters measured except for full LW, hot and cold carcass weight, shear force, color and cholesterol content among the treatment groups. Aging had significant effects on all the parameters measured in this study except a* (redness) of meat. Meat samples in the Medium and High treatments were of higher lightness and yellowness, more tender and lower cholesterol levels. We conclude that, in addition to mitigate enteric methane emissions, dietary supplementation of naturally-produced lovastatin at 4 mg/kg LW could be a feasible feeding strategy to produce tender meat containing lower cholesterol.

Gene and protein expression in the reproductive tract of Brazilian Somalis rams

Brazilian Somalis is a locally-adapted breed of rams raised in tropical climate and native pastures. The present study was conducted to evaluate gene expression and proteome of the reproductive tract of such rams. Samples were collected from testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands of four rams. Expression of clusterin (CLU), osteopontin (OPN) and prostaglandin D2 synthase (PGDS) genes were evaluated in all samples by real-time PCR. Shotgun proteomic analysis was performed using samples from the head, corpus and cauda epididymides and from all other structures as well. Gene ontology terms and protein interactions were obtained from UniProtKB databases and MetaCore v.6.8 platform. CLU trasncripts were detected in the testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands of the Somalis rams. The initial region and body of the epididymis had the greatest CLU expression. OPN mRNA was localized in all tissues of the ram reproductive tract. PGDS mRNA was detected in the testes and epididymides. Lable-free mass spectrometry allowed the identification of 137 proteins in all samples. Proteins of the epididymis head mainly participate in cellular processes and response to stimulus, participating in catalityc activity and binding. Proteins of epididymis body acted as regulatory proteins and in cellular processes, with binding and catalytic activity. Cauda epididymis molecules were associated with cellular processes and regulation, with binding function and catalytic activity as well. Testis proteins were mainly linked to cell processes and response to stimuli, and had catalytic function. Seminal vesicle proteins were involved in regulation and mainly with binding functions. Most bulbourethral gland proteins participated in cellular processes. The present study is the first to evaluate the proteome and gene expressions in the reproductive tract of Brazilian Somalis rams. Such pieces of information bring significant cointribution for the understanding of the reproductive physiology of locally-adapted livestock.

Intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance, performance, and carcass yield of lambs fed licuri cake

This study aimed to determine the impact of the inclusion of licuri cake in the diets of crossbred Santa Inês lambs, based on intake, digestibility, N balance, urea N, and performance. We used 44 male lambs that were vaccinated and wormed, with an average age of 6 mo and an average BW of 21.2 kg ± 2.7 kg. The lambs were fed a mixture of Tifton-85 hay (40%) and a concentrated mixture (60%) composed of ground corn, soybean meal, and mineral premix. For the treatments, licuri cake was added at levels of 0, 8, 16, and 24% of DM, with the licuri cake replacing soybean meal and ground corn. We used 11 lambs per treatment in a randomized design. The lambs were confined for 70 d, and the digestibility trial occurred between Day 40 and Day 55. The increased level of licuri cake inclusion promoted a linear reduction in DM intake ( = 0.00) with a 39% reduction between treatments with the 0 and 24% cakes. On the other hand, ether extract () consumption showed an initial quadratic increase ( = 0.00). The total weight gain and ADG showed a linear decrease ( = 0.00) with the addition of licuri cake. The inclusion of licuri cake linearly enhanced ( = 0.02) the digestibility of CP and EE, whereas the digestibility of other nutrients in lambs remained unchanged ( > 0.05). The licuri cake increase led to a linear decrease ( < 0.05) in the N intake, fecal N, and retained N in lambs. Urinary N was not changed. The slaughter carcass weight, HCW, cold carcass weight, hot carcass yield, and cold carcass yield showed linear decreases ( < 0.05) with the addition of licuri cake. Carcass morphometric measurements were influenced by experimental diets, showing linear decreases ( < 0.05) with the addition of licuri cake to diets. The fat thickness, conformation, external length, internal length, leg length, rump width, and chest circumference showed linear decreases ( < 0.05) with the inclusion of licuri cake in diets. The inclusion of licuri cake decreased DMI and digestibility, reflecting the lower ADG. Although feed efficiency was not affected, the lambs weighed less at slaughter and the licuri cake had a negative impact on carcass yield. Therefore, the use of the studied levels of licuri cake in diets for finishing lambs cannot be recommended.

Growth, testis size, spermatogenesis, semen parameters and seminal plasma and sperm membrane protein profile during the reproductive development of male goats supplemented with de-oiled castor cake

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of de-oiled castor cake on reproductive traits of crossbreed goats. Fourteen males were grouped into two lots (n = 7/group), as described: group without de-oiled castor cake (WCC) and group fed with de-oiled castor cake (CC). Goats received two diets containing a mixture of Bermudagrass hay and concentrates with the same energy (73% total digestive nutrients) and protein content (15% crude protein) during 150 days, corresponding to ages from 40 (puberty) to 60 weeks. Blood plasma concentrations of urea, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase and testosterone were determined. We also evaluated scrotal circumference, sperm parameters, quantitative aspects of spermatogenesis and daily sperm production (DSP), as well as the proteome of seminal plasma and sperm membrane. Seminal fluid and sperm proteins were analyzed by 2D SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry. After 150 days of castor cake feeding, animals had no changes in the biochemical composition of blood plasma, suggesting the absence of intoxication by ingestion of ricin. There were no alterations in dry mater intake, weight gain, testis size, peripheral concentrations of testosterone, sperm concentration, motility and morphology. Sertoli and germ cell populations in the testis and DSP were not affected either. However, there were significant variations in the expression of five seminal plasma proteins and four sperm membrane proteins. In conclusion, the replacement of soybean meal by castor cake (with ricin concentrations of 50mg/kg) did not interfere with the growth and core reproductive development of male goats. However, the diet with ricin altered the expression of certain seminal plasma and sperm membrane proteins, which play roles in sperm function and fertilization. Lower expression of these proteins may impair the ricin-fed animals to perform as high-fertility sires.