Work

Cactus pear genotypes alter hepatic biochemical and histopathological profiles but improve growth performance in feedlot lambs

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of partially replacing elephant grass hay and fully replacing ground corn with three cactus pear genotypes on blood biochemical parameters and on the histopathological and histomorphometric characteristics of the sheep liver. Forty uncastrated male Santa Inês lambs (21.0 ± 2.0 kg body weight) were allocated to four dietary treatments (10 lambs per treatment) in a completely randomized design: a control diet and three experimental diets in which part (750 g/kg) of the elephant grass hay and all corn were replaced by Miúda, IPA-Sertânia, or Orelha de Elefante Mexicana cactus pear. On day 60 after the beginning of the experimental period, blood samples were collected. After 63 days in feedlot, the animals were slaughtered and liver samples were collected from different lobes. Lambs fed cactus pear-based diets showed higher growth performance (P < 0.05), liver weight (+76.92%), alkaline phosphatase activity (+274,45%), and plasma glucose concentration (+46.25%) (P < 0.001). Conversely, serum urea and cholesterol concentrations were reduced in these animals (P < 0.05). Most hepatic lesions were not affected by the diets, except for steatosis, which presented higher intensity in lambs fed the IPA-Sertânia genotype (P = 0.020). In conclusion, the inclusion of carmine cochineal-resistant cactus pear genotypes in feedlot diets for up to 63 days was associated with hepatic alterations in sheep but enhance short-term growth performance.

Source: Small Ruminant Research

DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2026.107927