RESUMO

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.