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Rosales-Nieto CA, Rodríguez-Aguilar M, Santiago-Hernandez F, Cuevas-Reyes V, Flores-Najera MJ, Vázquez-García JM, Urrutia-Morales J, Ghaffari MH, Meza-Herrera CA, González-Bulnes A, Martin GB. Periconceptional nutrition with spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) improves metabolomic profiles and pregnancy outcomes in sheep. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7214. [PMID: 33785817 PMCID: PMC8010085 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86653-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We tested whether periconceptional nutrition with cladodes from the cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, with or without protein-enrichment, improved the metabolomic profile and reproductive outcomes of adult female sheep. Sixty Rambouillet ewes of similar body weight were randomly allocated among three nutritional treatments that were fed during the breeding period (34 days): Control (Control; n = 20), Opuntia (Opuntia; n = 20) and protein-enriched Opuntia (E-Opuntia; n = 20). There were no effects of treatment on body weight but assessment of urine samples indicated that, for 76 metabolites, the Control and Opuntia groups differed completely (P < 0.05), whereas there was overlap between the Control and E-Opuntia groups. It appears that, in Opuntia-fed and Control-fed sheep, different functional groups are activated leading to changes in the metabolism of glucose, tyrosine, methane, and glycerolipids. Fertility and reproductive rate tended to be higher in the Opuntia (70% and 95%) and E-Opuntia (90% and 110%) groups than in the Control (55% and 65%), and an orthogonal contrast revealed the difference between Control and Opuntia to be significant for both reproductive variables (P < 0.05). We conclude that nutritional supplementation with Opuntia cladodes, with or without protein enrichment, increased fertility rate and reproductive rate of female sheep, without any accompanying increases in body weight. Our observations suggest that the reproductive responses to Opuntia do not simply reflect a response to good nutrition, but might be caused by specific metabolites/metabolomic pathways, perhaps by an activation of the metabolism of glucose, methane, tyrosine and glycerolipids. There are few reports relating these metabolomic compounds with the metabolism of the sheep, let alone with reproductive efficiency. The novelty of these discoveries suggests that we need further research into the mechanisms through which nutrition affects the reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- César A Rosales-Nieto
- Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, 78321, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
| | - Maribel Rodríguez-Aguilar
- Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACYT), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, 78210, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
- Departamento de Farmacología, División de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Quintana Roo, 77039, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Francisco Santiago-Hernandez
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental San Luis, 78431, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Venancio Cuevas-Reyes
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental Valle de México, 56250, Texcoco, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Manuel J Flores-Najera
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental la Laguna, 27440, Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Juan M Vázquez-García
- Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, 78321, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Jorge Urrutia-Morales
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental San Luis, 78431, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | | | - César A Meza-Herrera
- Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, 35230, Bermejillo, Mexico
| | - Antonio González-Bulnes
- Departamento de Producción y Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46115-Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain
| | - Graeme B Martin
- UWA Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
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Cuevas Reyes V, Santiago Hernandez F, Flores Najera MDJ, Vazquez Garcia JM, Urrutia Morales J, Hosseini-Ghaffari M, Chay-Canul A, Meza-Herrera CA, Gonzalez-Bulnes A, Martin GB, Rosales Nieto CA. Intake of Spineless Cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica During Late Pregnancy Improves Progeny Performance in Underfed Sheep. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10060995. [PMID: 32517317 PMCID: PMC7341186 DOI: 10.3390/ani10060995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Plants in the Opuntia genus are abundant and can be used as a feed supplement because they are highly digestible and can provide water and energy. We fed sheep during late gestation with alfalfa (Control), Opuntia (Opuntia) or protein-enriched Opuntia (E-Opuntia) and measured milk yield and postnatal growth in the progeny. Birth weight did not differ among treatments (p > 0.05) but progeny from E-Opuntia grew faster (p < 0.01) and were heavier at weaning (p < 0.05), despite the fact that Control ewes produced more milk (p < 0.05). Feeding ewes with Opuntia (protein enriched or not) during the last third of gestation is an option for reducing production costs in underfed females managed under extensive conditions in arid and semiarid regions. Abstract The present study tested whether feeding ewes during the last third of pregnancy with cladodes of Opuntia (untreated or protein-enriched), as an alternative to alfalfa hay, would improve milk yield as well as the pre- and post-natal growth of their lambs. Sixty mature Rambouillet ewes and their progeny were randomly allocated among three nutritional treatments: (i) Control, fed alfalfa; (ii) Opuntia, fed untreated cladodes; (iii) E-Opuntia, fed protein-enriched cladodes (pre-treated with urea and ammonium sulphate). Birth weight did not differ among treatments (p > 0.05) but Control ewes produced more milk than both groups of Opuntia-fed ewes (p < 0.05). However, milk yield was not related to the growth of the progeny (p > 0.05) because lambs from E-Opuntia-fed ewes grew faster (p < 0.01) and were heavier at weaning (p < 0.05) than lambs from the other two groups. We conclude that Opuntia (with or without protein enrichment) can be used as an alternative to alfalfa hay for feeding ewes during the last third of pregnancy and therefore reduce production costs under extensive conditions in arid and semiarid regions. Moreover, protein-enriched Opuntia appears to improve postnatal lamb growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venancio Cuevas Reyes
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental Valle de México, Texcoco 56250, Ciudad de México, Mexico;
| | - Francisco Santiago Hernandez
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental San Luis, San Luis Potosí 78431, Mexico; (F.S.H.); (J.U.M.)
| | - Manuel de Jesus Flores Najera
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental La Laguna, Matamoros 27440, Coahuila, Mexico;
| | - Juan Manuel Vazquez Garcia
- Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Autónoma San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí 78321, Mexico;
| | - Jorge Urrutia Morales
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental San Luis, San Luis Potosí 78431, Mexico; (F.S.H.); (J.U.M.)
| | | | - Alfonso Chay-Canul
- División Académica de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carr. Villahermosa-Teapa, km 25, Villahermosa 86280, Tabasco, Mexico;
| | - César A. Meza-Herrera
- Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Ciudad Juárez 35230, Bermejillo, Mexico;
| | | | - Graeme B. Martin
- UWA Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Cesar A. Rosales Nieto
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental La Laguna, Matamoros 27440, Coahuila, Mexico;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +52-4448261314
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The Opuntia effect upon the out-of-season embryo implantation rate in goats: Corpus luteal number, corpus luteal diameter and serum progesterone concentrations. Livest Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Meza-Herrera CA, Romero-Rodríguez CA, Nevárez-Dominguez A, Flores-Hernández A, Cano-Villegas O, Macías-Cruz U, Mellado M, Calderón-Leyva G, Carrillo-Moreno D, Véliz-Deras FG. The Opuntia effect and the Reactivation of Ovarian Function and Blood Metabolite Concentrations of Anestrous Goats Exposed to Active Males. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9080550. [PMID: 31412654 PMCID: PMC6719177 DOI: 10.3390/ani9080550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary We evaluated the potential supplementation effect of protein enriched Opuntia cladodes, the flat leaf-like steam of cactus species (PEO), upon changes of blood metabolites, estrus induction, estrus latency, and ovulation rate in anestrous goats exposed to sexually active males. We observed that PEO positively influenced reproductive outcomes without changes in blood metabolites. Our results highlight the importance that bio-fortified Opuntia cladodes supplementation exerts on anestrous goats exposed to the male effect as an option to improve not only the out-of-season reproductive efficiency of goats but to enhance the sustainability of marginal, extensive and semi-arid goat production systems. 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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar A Meza-Herrera
- Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Programa de Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Bermejillo, Durango 35230, Mexico.
| | - Carlos A Romero-Rodríguez
- Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Programa de Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Bermejillo, Durango 35230, Mexico
- Instituto de Estudios de Posgrado, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Adrian Nevárez-Dominguez
- Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Programa de Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Bermejillo, Durango 35230, Mexico
| | - Arnoldo Flores-Hernández
- Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Programa de Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Bermejillo, Durango 35230, Mexico
| | - Omag Cano-Villegas
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Gómez Palacio, Durango 35010, Mexico
| | - Ulises Macías-Cruz
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali 21705, Mexico
| | - Miguel Mellado
- Departamento de Ciencias Médico Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreón, Coahuila 27054, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Calderón-Leyva
- Departamento de Ciencias Médico Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreón, Coahuila 27054, Mexico
| | - Dalia Carrillo-Moreno
- Departamento de Ciencias Médico Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreón, Coahuila 27054, Mexico
| | - Francisco G Véliz-Deras
- Departamento de Ciencias Médico Veterinarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Unidad Laguna, Periférico Raúl López Sánchez y Carretera a Santa Fe, Torreón, Coahuila 27054, Mexico
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Reproductive outcomes of anestrous goats supplemented with spineless Opuntia megacantha Salm-Dyck protein-enriched cladodes and exposed to the male effect. Trop Anim Health Prod 2017; 49:1511-1516. [PMID: 28707080 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-017-1356-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The possible influence of the "male effect" upon reproductive outcomes of adult anestrous goats under marginal rangeland conditions and supplemented with protein-enriched Opuntia megacantha Salm-Dyck was evaluated. Reproductive variables included: estrus percentage (EST, %), estrus latency (ESL, hours), ovulation percentage (OP, %), ovulation rate (OR, units), average largest follicle at ovulation (LFO, mm), largest corpus luteum (LCL, mm), embryo number (EBN, units), and embryo implantation percentage (EIP, %). During early May, anestrous mix-breed adult goats (Criollo x Alpine-Saanen-Nubian; n = 38, 26° N) were randomly distributed to (1) Control (CC; n = 12), (2), Non-enriched Opuntia (NEO; n = 14), and (3) Protein-enriched Opuntia (PEO; n = 12). Neither LW (P > 0.05) nor BCS (P > 0.05) or any of the evaluated ovarian variables differed (P > 0.05) among treatments; EST = 89.66%, ESL = 53.66 h, OP = 70.33%, OR = 1.07 units, LFO = 4.5 mm, LCL = 9.6 mm, EBN = 0.94 embryos, and EIP = 48.66%. Irrespective of nutritional supplementation regime, all goats denoted an increased response to the male effect just in the middle of the anestrous season and managed under marginal grazing conditions during the dry season (May to June; 26° N). The use of the male effect successfully invoked neurophysiological pathways to re-activate ovarian follicular and luteal pathways during the natural anestrous season in the female goat. Yet, such successful physiological scenario was not equally exerted to promote an increased embryo implantation rate; this issue claims further consideration. Therefore, it is essential to align not only the peri-conceptional but also the peri-implantation stages to the best suited environmental conditions in the rangeland, in order to increase both reproductive and economic efficiency while promoting sustainability in those rangeland-based marginal goat production systems.
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Delgadillo JA, Martin GB. Alternative methods for control of reproduction in small ruminants: A focus on the needs of grazing industries. Anim Front 2015. [DOI: 10.2527/af.2015-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. Alberto Delgadillo
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - Graeme B. Martin
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture and School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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Martin GB. An Australasian perspective on the role of reproductive technologies in world food production. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2014; 752:181-97. [PMID: 24170360 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-8887-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Industries based on small ruminants are major contributors to world food supply but, in extensive grazing systems, reproductive technology is not directly relevant to most enterprises. More important is the need to respond to demand in high-profit export markets for products that are 'clean, green and ethical' (CGE). This combination of issues led to the concept of CGE management of reproduction that is based on scientific evidence but does not require complex technology. Nutrition is the major challenge because we are limited primarily to the grazing of forages and pastures, but responding to this challenge opens up opportunities-new forages can supply energy and protein whilst improving animal health and welfare, and reducing carbon emissions. A second major factor is the need for accurate coordination of nutritional inputs with reproductive events to ensure that the metabolic signals are appropriate. To control of the timing of reproduction, we need to move beyond simply managing the presence of the male and seek more precision. Our ultimate CGE package is thus based on manipulation of male socio-sexual signals as well as nutrition, in combination with greater use of ultrasound and birth-site management to prevent neonatal mortality. Finally, genetics is critical in the development of the CGE package.It would be difficult to incorporate the entire package in one hit-adaptations are needed to cover variations in genotype and the geographical and socio-economic environment, and some concepts need research and development. Therefore, we have suggested staged introduction of the elements of the package.CGE management can be simple and cost-effective, and improve productivity whilst safeguarding the future of the industries in society and the marketplace. Reproductive technology might not be used by many farmers but it will be an essential tool for realizing the vision because it underpins the acceleration of genetic progress in otherwise tardy grazing industries. Finally, we suggest that the socio-economic drivers and the scientific principles of CGE management are also applicable to smallholders in developing economies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme B Martin
- UWA Institute of Agriculture M082, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia,
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Sakly C, Rekik M, Ben Salem I, Lassoued N, Gonzalez-Bulnes A, Ben Salem H. Reproductive response of fat-tailed Barbarine ewes subjected to short-term nutritional treatments including spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica f. inermis
) cladodes. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2013; 98:43-9. [DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Sakly
- Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott Meriem; Chott Meriem Tunisia
| | - M. Rekik
- Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire; Sidi Thabet Tunisia
| | - I. Ben Salem
- Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire; Sidi Thabet Tunisia
| | - N. Lassoued
- Laboratoire des Productions Animales; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique de Tunisie; Ariana Tunisia
| | | | - H. Ben Salem
- Laboratoire des Productions Animales; Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique de Tunisie; Ariana Tunisia
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