Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of replacing soybean meal (SM) with castor bean cake (DCC), detoxified using two alkaline products, on the feeding behavior and physiological parameters of Saanen and Anglo-Nubian goat breeds with an initial body weight of 16.22 +/- 0.67 kg. The treatments consisted of three diets that were isoproteic and isoenergetic: the first with a standard formulation based on corn and SM, the second with DCC detoxified using calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2) DCC), and the third with DCC detoxified using sodium hydroxide (NaOH DCC). A completely randomized design with a 3 x 2 (diets and breeds) factorial arrangement and four replicates per combination was used. A dietary effect on the intake of dry matter (DM) and NDFap (P = 0.02 and 0.01) was observed, with lower values for goats fed NaOH DCC than the other diets. The diets influenced feeding and rumination times (P = 0.04 and 0.03). An interaction (P = 0.04 and 0.01) between the breeds and the SM-based diet was found for time variables (other activity and idle time). Increased feeding and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) rumination efficiencies were observed for goats fed SM and Ca(OH), DCC (P = 0.03 and 0.01). Goats fed the NaOH DCC diet consumed large amounts of water, while Saanen goats urinated more times than did Anglo-Nubian goats. The diets had an effect on the heart rate and rectal temperature (P = 0.01 and 0.02), while the body surface temperature was influenced by the breed. Thus, Ca(OH)(2) or NaOH DCC has a great potential to replace SM in the feeding of dairy goats. When used as diet for goats in the growth phase, NaOH DCC causes a reduction of DM and NDF intakes. Neither DCC negatively affected the physiological parameters of goats.