Detoxified Castor Bean Meal as a Protein Supplement in Sugarcane Silage for Sheep: Intake, Digestibility, and Performance
by
, , , , , , , , , , , , and
Yohana Rosaly Corrêa
1,
Geovergue Rodrigues de Medeiros
2,
Juliana Silva de Oliveira
1,
Romildo da Silva Neves
2,
Danillo Marte Pereira
1,
Manoel Francisco de Sousa
3,
Liv Soares Severino
3,
Alberto Jefferson da Silva Macêdo
1,
Anderson Lopes Pereira
1,
Liliane Pereira Santana
4,
Paloma Gabriela Batista Gomes
1
,
João Paulo de Farias Ramos
1,
Ricardo Romão Guerra
1 and
Edson Mauro Santos
1,* 1
Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Paraíba, Areia 58397-000, PB, Brazil
2
National Institute of the Semiarid Region—INSA, Campina Grande 58434-700, PB, Brazil
3
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation—Embrapa Cotton, Campina Grande 58428-095, PB, Brazil
4
Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Maranhão, Chapadinha 65500-000, MA, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(4), 1741; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041741
Submission received: 18 December 2025
/
Revised: 2 February 2026
/
Accepted: 6 February 2026
/
Published: 10 February 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forage Systems and Sustainable Animal Production)
Abstract
Castor (Ricinus communis) is a toxic seed used to extract oil for the chemical industry, with castor meal as a by-product. A recently developed industrial method allows its detoxification, enabling its use as a protein-rich feed for ruminants. This study evaluated the safety of detoxified castor meal based on intake, digestibility, and performance of sheep fed sugarcane silage containing increasing levels of this ingredient. The detoxified castor meal, supplied by an oil extraction industry, underwent no additional detoxification treatment. Twenty-four intact male sheep were randomly assigned to diets containing 0%, 10%, 20% or 40% fresh matter castor meal in sugarcane silage. Diets were balanced with soybean meal and ground corn. After 60 days of feeding, no signs of intoxication were observed. Crude protein (CP) intake decreased from 0.157 to 0.128 kg/day (p = 0.03) and ether extract (EE) intake from 0.068 to 0.044 kg/day (p = 0.04). Crude protein digestibility declined from 754 to 473 g/kg (p < 0.01), and EE digestibility from 813 to 725 g/kg (p = 0.02). All other intake, digestibility, and performance variables were not significantly affected (p ≥ 0.05). Industrially detoxified castor meal was shown to be a safe additive in sugarcane silage up to 40% by fresh matter, with no adverse effects on sheep performance.
1. Introduction
Castor oil (Ricinus communis) is a versatile molecule used in the chemical industry, with castor meal as its main by-product. Despite its high CP content, castor meal has not been widely used in animal feed due to the presence of ricin, a highly toxic protein. Its main use has been as an organic fertilizer to suppress plant parasitic nematodes [1,2].
Ricin is heat sensitive, and the industrial oil extraction process reduces its activity by exposing the material to high temperature, shear, and alkalinity, particularly during solvent evaporation [3]. Although complete detoxification is not guaranteed, rumen microorganisms can degrade ricin [4], allowing its use in ruminant diets without additional detoxification [5]. Some active ricin remains, so castor meal is safe only for ruminants, not monogastrics [3]. In goats, a humoral immune response against ricin has been observed, without significant effects on metabolism or reproductive behavior [6].
Furthermore, it has been experimentally validated by our research group that supplementing sugarcane silage with detoxified castor bean meal at levels up to 40% fresh matter, the highest dose tested in this study, does not cause deleterious changes in blood parameters or in the histological structure of the rumen, liver, and kidneys of sheep. These findings confirm that the inclusion of such high levels is safe for confined sheep, representing a significant advancement over previous literature that suggested safety limits around 21% in a fresh matter diet [7].
Castor meal is a promising additive for sugarcane silage, providing nutritional and sustainable benefits [8,9,10]. However, its use is limited by ricin content, which can reach 5% of the seed weight [11]. Small ruminants tolerate up to 150 g/kg dry matter (DM) of non-detoxified meal [6], partly due to high ruminal proteolytic activity that degrades ricin [4]. Physical and chemical detoxification is necessary to ensure nutritional quality and feed safety [12].
High sugar content in sugarcane silage promotes fermentation, lactic acid bacteria populations [13], and rapid acidification, but can also stimulate yeast, ethanol production, gas and DM losses [5,14]. Additives are used to absorb moisture, inhibit undesirable microorganisms, and improve nutritive value [15]. Castor meal fulfills these roles, acting as a moisture-absorbing, protein-rich additive that improves fermentation, reduces losses, and increases protein content [5,16].
The addition of detoxified castor bean meal increases the DM content, which restricts the proliferation of undesirable microorganisms such as Clostridia and gas-producing enterobacteria by reducing water activity [17]. Furthermore, the higher DM content favors the dominance of homofermentative lactic acid bacteria over heterofermentative species, promoting a faster and more efficient pH drop, which is crucial for silage quality [17,18] and improves aerobic stability [16].
Previous studies tested calcium hydroxide-treated castor meal as an additive in sugarcane silage at up to 21% of fresh matter, without negative effects on intake, digestibility, performance, or carcass traits in sheep [10,19,20]. The inclusion of detoxified castor bean meal at levels up to 40% fresh matter in sugarcane silage is supported by experimental evidence from our group [7], which confirmed the absence of toxic effects on sheep blood parameters and organ histology (rumen, liver, and kidneys). This validated safety profile allows for the exploration of inclusion levels significantly higher than the 21% fresh matter limit previously reported in the literature. Given that the proteolytic activity of sugarcane silage may further mitigate toxic risks [4], testing these higher levels is essential to maximize the replacement of soybean meal and improve the economic efficiency of sheep production systems.
Therefore, we hypothesized that sheep could consume silage containing industrially detoxified castor meal without compromising animal performance up to 40% by fresh matter. The aim of this study was to evaluate intake, nutrient digestibility, and productive performance of sheep fed sugarcane silage with increasing levels of detoxified castor meal up to 40% of sugarcane fresh matter.
2. Materials and Methods
All experimental procedures were conducted in accordance with the guidelines established by the Animal Care and Use Ethics Committee of the National Institute of the Semi-Arid Region (INSA/MCTI) (Protocol nº 0001/2021).
2.1. Experimental Site
The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Station of the National Semi-Arid Institute (INSA), located in Campina Grande, State of Paraíba, Brazil, at the following geographic coordinates: latitude 7°13′50″ S, longitude 35°52′52″ W, and with an average annual rainfall of 492.4 mm and an average temperature of 24.6 °C [21].
2.2. Experimental Animals and Diets
Twenty-four intact ram lambs were considered as experimental units. They had no specific crossbreed, an initial body weight of 16.0 ± 0.75 kg, and were approximately eight months of age. They were housed in individual folds (2.0 m × 1.1 m) equipped with a drinker and feeder. The animals were identified with earrings, weighed, and dewormed against endo and ectoparasites with Moxidectina at a dose of 1 mL per 50 kg of body weight (BW) (Cydectin, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Campinas, SP, Brazil). Subsequently, they were assigned to a completely randomized design of four treatments, which consisted of four inclusion levels (0, 10, 20, and 40%) of detoxified castor meal (DCM) into sugarcane silage on a fresh matter (FM) basis. Twenty-four intact ram lambs were randomly assigned to a completely randomized design consisting of four treatments with six replications (animals) per treatment. The experimental period lasted 60 days, with 10 days for adaptation (management practices and diets) and 50 days for data and sample collection.
The experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isoenergetic to meet the nutritional requirements of sheep for an average daily gain of 0.150 kg/day, according to the recommendations of the NRC [22]. The composition of the experimental diets is listed in Table 1. The sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) used in the experiment was harvested 16 months after regrowth. The forage was chopped in a stationary forage machine into particles with an average size of 10 ± 12 mm. After processing, the sugarcane was homogenized and mixed with the DCM corresponding to the amount of each treatment.
The DCM was supplied by Azevedo Óleos Vegetais LTDA. (Itupeva, SP, Brazil). The detoxification and processing followed a multi-stage industrial protocol. Initially, the seeds underwent mechanical cleaning using high-capacity shaking sieves and air-blowing systems (Bühler TAS™ cleaning series, Uzwil, Switzerland) to remove impurities. Oil extraction was performed in two phases: first, mechanical extraction using an expeller press (International Expeller®, Cleveland, OH, USA), reducing the oil content. This was followed by chemical extraction using hexane as a solvent at 60 °C for 2:30 h in a horizontal belt (De Smet Extraction Technology®, Diegem, Belgium), further reducing the residual oil. Finally, the solvent was removed through an evaporation process in a desolventizer–toaster or industrial oven at 100 °C for 2 h (Estufa Industrial AC-0025, Ar Brasil, Equipamentos Industriais LTDA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil). After processing, the sugarcane and DCM were ensiled in bag silos (high-density bags, measuring 51 × 110 cm, 50 kg). The material was manually compacted by human trampling to minimize the amount of oxygen inside the silos and ensure adequate anaerobic conditions.
Silos were opened after 60 days of fermentation, and the silages were sampled for laboratory analysis. Corn and soybean meal concentrates were formulated to compose the animal diet (Table 2). The lambs were given a total mixed ration (TMR) twice a day, at 8:00 and 16:00 h. The amount of feed offered and the leftovers were weighed daily to measure voluntary intake, respecting a level of 10% leftovers. Samples of the diet provided and the leftovers were collected daily and frozen at −20 °C for analysis. Subsequently, the samples were thawed, homogenized, weighed, and pre-dried in a forced air oven at 55 °C for 72 h.
2.3. Sampling, Animal Performance and Nutrients Used
The animals were weighed every two weeks on an electronic scale after a 16 h fast to facilitate precise measurements of animal performance. Initial body weight (IBW) was obtained by weighing the animals on the first experimental day. The last weighing was performed on the last experimental day to obtain the final body weight (FBW) and evaluate animal performance. Weight gain (WG) was estimated by the equation: WG = FBW − IBW; average daily gain (ADG) was calculated by the equation: ADG = (FBW − IFW)/feedlot period. Feed efficiency (FE) was calculated as follows: FE = kg BW gain/kg feed.
Dry matter intake (DMI) was calculated by the difference between the total DM of the supplied feed and the total DM in the leftovers. Nutrient intake was determined by the difference between the total nutrients in the feed ingested and the total nutrients in the leftovers, based on the total DM.
To determine the apparent digestibility coefficients of DM, organic matter (OM), CP, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and EE, after the 46th day of the feedlot period, feces were collected directly from the rectal ampoule of the animals. Fecal samples were collected twice a day for three consecutive days at alternating times throughout the collection days (47th day at 6:00 and 14:00 h, 48th day at 8:00 and 16:00 h, and 49th day at 10:00 and 18:00 h), according to Bispo et al. [23]. Subsequently, the feed samples were weighed, pre-dried, and placed into nonwoven fabric bags (100 g/m2), previously dried and weighed, and incubated in the rumen of a fistulated male bovine for 288 h, according to the in situ protocol [24]. After incubation, the bags were treated with a neutral detergent solution for 60 min, washed under running water and subsequently with hot distilled water. They were then immersed in acetone for 5 min, dried at 105 °C for 12 h, and weighed for the determination of indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF). All procedures followed the standardized analytical methods of the National Institute of Science and Technology in Animal Science by Detmann et al. [25]. Fecal DM was estimated based on iNDF levels. Digestibility coefficients (DCs) of nutrients were calculated using the equation proposed by Silva and Leão [26]: DC = [(kg of ingested fraction − kg of excreted fraction)/(kg ingested fraction)].
2.4. Laboratory Analysis
At the end of the experiment, the feed and leftover samples were thawed and pooled according to the experimental treatments. For the digestibility analysis, the leftovers, feed, and feces were grouped by animal. These samples were ground using a Wiley mill with a 1-mm sieve for the analyses of DM (method 934.01), ash (method 942.05), CP (Kjeldahl, N × 6.25, method 981.10), and EE (method 920.39), according to AOAC (1997) [27]. The analysis of NDF was performed using thermostable amylase, according to the methodology described by Detmann et al. [25]. Total carbohydrates (TC) were determined according to Sniffen et al. [28] and calculated using the following equation: TC (g/kg DM) = 100 − (CP + EE + Ash).
Non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) were calculated according to Hall [29], using the following equation: NFC = 100 − Ash − EE − NDF − (CP + CPu + U), where: CPu = crude protein content from urea, U = urea content.
The total digestible nutrient (TDN) content was estimated using the equation proposed by Weiss et al. [30]: TDN = CPdigestible + (EEdigestible × 2.25) + NFCdigestible + NDFdigestible.
2.5. Statistical Analysis
The results were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression using the statistical software SISVAR version 5.6 [31]. To evaluate the effect of inclusion levels of detoxified castor bean meal in sugarcane silage, inclusion levels were considered as a quantitative independent variable, and response variables were treated as dependent variables. Linear and quadratic regression models were fitted according to the observed biological response. Regression equations were selected based on the coefficient of determination (R2), considering linear and quadratic effects. The significance of regression coefficients was determined using the T test, adopting a significance level of 5% (α = 0.05), according to the model:
where Yij = observed variable; β0 = overall mean; β1 = coeficiente do efeito linear; β2 = coeficiente do efeito quadrático; Xi = effect of the inclusion level of detoxified castor bean meal; eij = effect associated with the experimental error.
Yij = β0 + β1Xi + β2Xi2 + eij
3. Results
The inclusion of increasing levels of detoxified castor meal (DCM) in sugarcane silage likely promoted an improvement in its nutritional value. A progressive increase in crude protein (CP) content was observed as DCM levels increased. Conversely, a dilution effect of the fibrous fraction was observed, as evidenced by reductions in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents (Table 1).
The inclusion of different doses of castor meal in sugarcane silage did not affect DMI, organic matter intake (OMI), neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI), total carbohydrate intake (TCI), or non-fiber carbohydrate intake (NFCI), as shown in Table 3. However, an effect was observed on crude protein intake (CPI) and ether extract intake (EEI), both showing a decreasing linear trend (p ≤ 0.05), indicating that increasing DCM levels in silage reduced the intake of these nutrients. Specifically, CPI decreased from 0.157 kg/day in the control group (0% DCM) to 0.128 kg/day at the 40% inclusion level. Likewise, EEI dropped from 0.068 to 0.044 kg/day over the same range of DCM inclusion.
Regarding nutrient digestibility (Table 4), the doses of DCM did not affect the digestibility of dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDFD), total carbohydrates (TCD), or non-fiber carbohydrates (NFCD). However, an impact was observed on the digestibility of crude protein (CPD) and ether extract digestibility (EED). CPD dropped sharply from 754.15 g/kg at 0% DCM to 472.88 g/kg at 40% DCM, while EED declined from 813.02 to 725.08 g/kg.
Concerning sheep performance, none of the performance variables measured were affected by the different doses of DCM in the silage (Table 5). Total weight gain during the experimental period ranged from 6.19 to 7.05 kg, with no statistical association with the castor meal levels. Similarly, variations in average daily gain and feed efficiency were not affected by the tested inclusion levels (p ≥ 0.05).
4. Discussion
The main finding of this study was that industrially, DCM can be safely used as an additive in sugarcane silage, replacing soybean meal up to 40% fresh matter DCM in sugarcane silage, without impairing feed intake, digestibility, or animal performance. The absence of negative effects on growth performance and intake indicates that the detoxification process adopted by the oil extraction industry and fermentation process, ensilage was effective in eliminating ricin toxicity to levels safe for ruminant feeding.
DMI and the intake of other nutrients, such as organic matter and NDF, were not affected by the DCM doses. These findings suggest that the inclusion of DCM in sugarcane silage did not alter feed palatability or ruminal fermentation patterns enough to affect voluntary intake. Our findings are consistent with previous studies evaluating the inclusion of DCM in the diets of small ruminants. Oliveira et al. [5], when evaluating inclusion levels of 0, 7, 14, and 21 of DCM on a fresh matter basis in sugarcane silage, and Paulino et al. [16], testing levels of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% of DCM under the same conditions, recommend the highest DCM inclusion levels (21 and 20%, respectively), due to improvements in CP content and improvements in the fermentation profile of the silage. In this context, Lira et al. [20], when evaluating the use of sugarcane silage containing DCM (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% on a fresh matter basis in sugarcane silage) in diets for sheep, also recommended the highest evaluated level (20% DCM in the silage). The maintenance of soybean meal in the diet (54 g/kg) contributed to increased nutrient intake and feed efficiency. However, these authors observed a reduction in OMD and CPD.
Lima et al. [9], when evaluating goat diets using sugarcane silage containing increasing levels of DCM (0, 2.5; 5; and 7.5% on a fresh matter in basis sugarcane silage) added with urea, observed that the 2.5% level ensures improvements in milk composition and production and feed efficiency of goats, without negatively affecting nutrient intake, digestibility, or ingestive behavior. According to Dantas Júnior et al. [32], moderate inclusion levels of DCM (up to 20% on a DM or as-fed basis) can even promote beneficial ruminal and intestinal morphological changes that enhance nutrient absorption in small ruminants. It is essential to emphasize that, although our inclusion levels in the sugarcane silage were 0, 10, 20, and 40% DCM (on an as-fed silage basis), these are equivalent to 0, 5, 10, and 20% DCM on an as-fed diet basis, as detailed in Table 2. Therefore, our results corroborate the aforementioned studies while expanding the safe limit for inclusion in silage, demonstrating the feasibility of utilizing DCM as an additive at higher levels without compromising animal performance.
The decrease in CPI and CPD observed in this study reflects the lower biological value of the protein in DCM compared to soybean meal. This reduction can be explained by the heat and alkaline conditions involved in castor oil extraction, which may promote protein denaturation and reduce nitrogen availability [3,18,19,33,34].
Additionally, Corrêa et al. [7], in a complementary histological study using sheep fed sugarcane silage supplemented with DCM at the same inclusion levels of our study (0, 10, 20, and 40% DCM fresh matter in sugarcane silage) are equivalent to 0, 5, 10, and 20% DCM on an as-fed diet basis, reported morphological changes in the ruminal epithelium, including increased papilla width and keratinization at the highest inclusion level (up to 40%). These adaptations indicate a physiological adjustment of the ruminal mucosa to the presence of DCM, which may slightly reduce nutrient absorption efficiency, particularly for CP. The increased keratinized layer, while not pathological, may act as a physical barrier, contributing to the lower CPD values observed in this experiment. The results indicate that replacing soybean meal with detoxified castor meal, when performed without urea supplementation, compromises the biological value of nutrients, particularly protein, resulting in reduced dietary protein digestibility. In the study by Ferreira et al. [10], even at the highest inclusion level evaluated (20%), the maintenance of soybean meal in the diet (54 g/kg) contributed to higher intake and improved crude protein digestibility. In contrast, Lima et al. [9] observed that the complete replacement of soybean meal at the highest inclusion level (75 g/kg dry matter of detoxified castor meal), when associated with urea supplementation (14 g/kg), did not result in losses in the biological value of nutrients, particularly protein. These findings highlight the importance of adequate protein balance and sufficient ruminal nitrogen availability to sustain fermentation efficiency and the utilization of alternative protein sources to soybean meal in ruminant nutrition.
Ether extract intake and EED also showed a decreasing trend as DCM replaced soybean meal. This pattern is mainly due to the markedly lower lipid content of DCM (7.68 g/kg) compared to soybean meal (134.57 g/kg). However, the unique lipid profile of castor oil, dominated by ricinoleic acid, a hydroxylated fatty acid, could also influence ruminal lipid metabolism. Despite being metabolizable by rumen microbiota, ricinoleic acid has an unusual chemical structure that may limit its hydrogenation and absorption [35,36]. The histological observations from Corrêa et al. [7] further support this interpretation, as the ruminal epithelial thickening and keratinization associated with higher DCM inclusion (up to 40% DCM fresh matter in sugarcane silage) could impair lipid absorption efficiency, aligning with the reduced EED observed in our study.
Regarding animal performance, no effects were detected for total weight gain, average daily gain (ADG), or feed efficiency (FE). The stable performance, despite the reduction in CP and EE digestibility, indicates that the energy and protein supply from the silage remained adequate to meet the maintenance and growth requirements of the animals. These results align with previous findings [16,32], showing that the inclusion of DCM up to moderate levels (up to 40% DCM fresh matter in sugarcane silage) in the diet of small ruminants does not compromise productive performance.
The complementary histological findings of Corrêa et al. [7] help explain the maintenance of performance even at higher DCM inclusion levels (up to 40% DCM fresh matter in sugarcane silage). The authors reported that DCM inclusion increased ruminal papilla width, stimulating microbial activity and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, especially propionate and butyrate, which are key precursors for gluconeogenesis and energy metabolism in ruminants. Therefore, even with reduced protein digestibility, the increased fermentation surface and VFA production could have compensated for potential reductions in nutrient availability, maintaining satisfactory performance.
Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that the inclusion of industrially detoxified castor meal (up to 40% DCM fresh matter in sugarcane silage) provides a safe and efficient feeding strategy for sheep. The observed adjustments in nutrient intake and digestibility are compatible with normal physiological adaptations of the digestive system, without indicating any toxic or pathological effects. The balance between feed composition, ruminal adaptation, and microbial fermentation contributed to maintaining stable performance parameters, even at the highest inclusion levels (up to 40% DCM fresh matter in sugarcane silage). These findings support the use of detoxified castor meal as a sustainable alternative protein source in ruminant diets, offering nutritional and environmental benefits for livestock production systems in semi-arid regions.
5. Conclusions
Sheep feeding on sugarcane silage made with detoxified castor meal at a large scale in the castor oil industry had good performance, such as in the diet with soybean meal as the protein source. Increasing doses of detoxified castor meal in the sugarcane silage, up to 40% by fresh matter, did not influence sheep performance.
Author Contributions
Conceptualization, Y.R.C., G.R.d.M., J.S.d.O., J.P.d.F.R. and R.R.G.; methodology, Y.R.C., G.R.d.M., J.S.d.O., R.d.S.N., M.F.d.S., L.S.S., A.J.d.S.M., A.L.P., L.P.S., P.G.B.G., R.R.G. and E.M.S.; formal analysis, G.R.d.M., R.d.S.N., D.M.P., M.F.d.S., A.J.d.S.M., A.L.P., L.P.S., P.G.B.G. and J.P.d.F.R.; investigation, G.R.d.M., R.d.S.N., D.M.P., M.F.d.S., A.J.d.S.M., A.L.P., L.P.S., P.G.B.G. and J.P.d.F.R.; resources, E.M.S.; data curation, Y.R.C.; writ-ing—original draft preparation, A.L.P., and P.G.B.G.; writing—review and editing, and E.M.S.; visualization, super-vision, J.S.d.O. and E.M.S.; project administration, E.M.S.; funding acquisition, E.M.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Funding
This work was supported by the Azevedo Indústria e Comércio de Óleos LTDA. under Grant [SEG 30.22.90.026.00.00].
Institutional Review Board Statement
Animal handling followed the guidelines recommended by the Animal Care and Use Committee of the National Institute of the Semi-Arid Region (Protocol 0001/2021).
Data Availability Statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all students of the Grupo de Estudo em Forragicultura (GEF), from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), the Instituto Nacional do Semiárido (INSA), and Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA).
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Abbreviations
The following abbreviations are used in this manuscript:
| CP | Crude protein |
| EE | Ether extract |
| DM | Dry matter |
| BW | Body weight |
| INSA | Experimental Station of the National Semi-Arid Institute |
| DCM | Detoxified castor meal |
| TMR | Total mixed ration |
| IBW | Initial body weight |
| FBW | Final body weight |
| WG | Weight gain |
| ADG | Average daily gain |
| FE | Feed efficiency |
| DMI | Dry matter intake |
| OM | Organic matter |
| NDF | Neutral detergent fiber |
| iNDF | Indigestible neutral detergent fiber |
| DC | Digestibility coefficients |
| TC | Total carbohydrates |
| CPu | Crude protein content from urea |
| NFC | Non-fiber carbohydrates |
| TDN | Total digestible nutrient |
| OMI | Organic matter intake |
| NDFI | Neutral detergent fiber intake |
| TCI | Total carbohydrate intake |
| NFCI | Non-fiber carbohydrate intake |
| CPI | Crude protein intake |
| EEI | Ether extract intake |
| DMD | Dry matter digestibility |
| OMD | Organic matter digestibility |
| NDFD | Neutral detergent fiber digestibility |
| TCD | Total carbohydrate digestibility |
| NFCD | Non-fiber carbohydrates digestibility |
| CPD | Crude protein digestibility |
| EED | Ether extract digestibility |
| VFA | Volatile fatty acid |
References
- Lima, R.L.S.; Severino, L.S.; Sampaio, L.R.; Sofiatti, V.; Gomes, J.A.; Beltrão, N.E.M. Blends of Castor Meal and Castor Husks for Optimized Use as Organic Fertilizer. Ind. Crops Prod. 2011, 33, 364–368. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Galbieri, R.; Kobayasti, L.; Albuquerque, M.C.F.; de Sá, R.O.; Dutra, S.G.; Boldt, A.S.; Timper, P. Castor Bean as an Option for Meloidogyne incognita Management in Cotton. Int. J. Pest Manag. 2024, 70, 102–110. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Rocha, A.C.; Alves, F.G.d.S.; Salles, H.O.; Pompeu, R.C.F.F.; Ludke, J.V.; Severino, L.S.; Cândido, M.J.D. The Industrial Process of Solvent Extraction of Castor Oil Reduces the Toxicity of the Meal. Ind. Crops Prod. 2022, 181, 114800. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- de Oliveira, A.S.; Oliveira, M.R.C.; Campos, J.M.S.; Lana, R.P.; Machado, O.L.T.; Retamal, C.A.; Detmann, E.; Filho, S.C.V. In Vitro Ruminal Degradation of Ricin and Its Effect on Microbial Growth. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 2010, 157, 41–54. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Oliveira, A.C.; Garcia, R.; Pires, A.J.V.; Oliveira, H.C.; Almeida, V.V.S.; Silva, R.R.; Nascimento Filho, C.S.; Abreu Filho, G. Chemical Composition and Fermentation Characteristics of Sugar Cane Silage Enriched with Detoxified Castor Bean Meal. Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 2015, 67, 181–188. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Silva, L.M.; Oliveira, C.H.d.A.; da Silva, C.M.G.; Silva, A.M.; Fernandes, C.C.L.; Furtado, R.F.; Nunes-Pinheiro, D.C.S.; Guedes, M.I.F.; Rondina, D. Use of Castor Meal (Ricinus communis L.) as a Source of Dietary Protein in Goats during the Mating Period: Impact on Reproductive and Metabolic Responses. Semin. Cienc. Agrar. 2015, 36, 203. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Corrêa, Y.R.; de Oliveira, J.S.; de Sousa, M.F.; Severino, L.S.; de Medeiros, G.R.; Pereira, A.L.; da Silva Cordeiro, L.; Correia, T.B.D.; da Silva Macêdo, A.J.; Santos, E.M. Effects of the Addition of Detoxified Castor Bean Meal to Sugarcane Silage: Blood Parameters and Histopathological Findings in Confined Sheep. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 2025, 57, 407. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Oliveira, A.C.; Garcia, R.; de Almeida, V.V.S.; Oliveira, H.C.; Silva, R.R.; de Lima Júnior, D.M. Feeding Behavior of Sheep Fed Sugarcane Silage Enriched with Detoxified Castor Bean Meal. Acta Sci. 2019, 41, 43848. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lima, M.V.S.; Bagaldo, A.R.; Müller, M.; Pinheiro, E.E.G.; Almeida, B.J.; Mugab, L.C.; Araújo, F.L.; Bezerra, L.R.; Oliveira, R.L. Intake, Digestibility, Ingestive Behavior, Production, and Composition of Goat Milk Supplemented with Detoxified Castor Bean Meal Added Urea as a Replacement of Soybean Meal. Trop. Anim. Health Prod. 2020, 52, 2135–2143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ferreira, J.C.d.S.; Oliveira, A.C.; de Almeida, V.V.S.; de Lira, V.L.; Oliveira, H.C.; Santos, L.S.; Ribeiro, J.d.S.; Moreno, G.M.B.; Júnior, D.M.d.L.; de Carvalho, F.F.R. Sugarcane Silage Added with Detoxified Castor Bean Meal in the Diet of Confined Lambs. Small Rumin. Res. 2023, 228, 107095. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bradberry, S.M.; Dickers, K.J.; Rice, P.; Griffiths, G.D.; Vale, J.A. Ricin Poisoning. Toxicol. Rev. 2003, 22, 65–70. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Anandan, S.; Kumar, G.K.A.; Ghosh, J.; Ramachandra, K.S. Effect of Different Physical and Chemical Treatments on Detoxification of Ricin in Castor Cake. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 2005, 120, 159–168. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Zanine, A.d.M.; de Sene, O.A.; Ferreira, D.d.J.; Parente, H.N.; Parente, M.d.O.M.; Pinho, R.M.A.; Santos, E.M.; Nascimento, T.V.C.; Lima, A.G.V.d.O.; Perazzo, A.F.; et al. Fermentative Profile, Losses and Chemical Composition of Silage Soybean Genotypes Amended with Sugarcane Levels. Sci. Rep. 2020, 10, 21064. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kung, L.; Shaver, R.D.; Grant, R.J.; Schmidt, R.J. Silage Review: Interpretation of Chemical, Microbial, and Organoleptic Components of Silages. J. Dairy Sci. 2018, 101, 4020–4033. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Muck, R.E.; Nadeau, E.M.G.; McAllister, T.A.; Contreras-Govea, F.E.; Santos, M.C.; Kung, L. Silage Review: Recent Advances and Future Uses of Silage Additives. J. Dairy Sci. 2018, 101, 3980–4000. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Paulino, A.d.S.; de Almeida, V.V.S.; Oliveira, A.C.; Oliveira, H.C.; Garcia, R.; Silva, R.R.; dos Santos, P.; da Silva, Y.A.; Bispo, S.B.; de Lima-Júnior, D.M. Influence of Increased Doses of Detoxified Castor Bean Meal on Chemical Composition and Characteristics of Sugarcane Silage. Chil. J. Agric. Res. 2018, 78, 503–510. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Muck, R.E. Silage Microbiology and Its Control through Additives. Rev. Bras. De Zootec. 2010, 39, 183–191. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Furtado, R.N.; Pompeu, R.C.F.F.; Cândido, M.J.D.; Pereira, E.S.; Lopes, M.N.; Rogério, M.C.P. Intake, Digestibility and Nitrogen Balance in Sheep Fed Diets Containing Detoxified Castor Cake. Rev. Ciência Agronômica 2020, 51, e20175992–e20176000. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Oliveira, H.C.; Garcia, R.; de Almeida, V.V.S.; Oliveira, A.C.; Pires, A.J.V.; Oliveira, U.L.C.; Cezario, A.S.; Júnior, D.M.d.L. Performance and Meat Quality of Lambs Fed Detoxified Castor Meal. Anim. Biosci. 2020, 00, 1–9. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- de Lira, V.L.; Oliveira, A.C.; de Almeida, V.V.S.; Ferreira, J.C.d.S.; Oliveira, H.C.; Santos, L.S.; Ribeiro, J.d.S.; Moreno, G.M.B.; Júnior, D.M.d.L.; de Carvalho, F.F.R. Effect of Detoxified Castor Bean Meal Inclusion in Sugarcane Ensilage on Intake, Digestibility, Water Balance, Ruminal Parameters, Serum Biochemistry, and Ingestive Behavior of Sheep. Livest. Sci. 2024, 280, 105409. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alvares, C.A.; Stape, J.L.; Sentelhas, P.C.; de Moraes Gonçalves, J.L.; Sparovek, G. Köppen’s Climate Classification Map for Brazil. Meteorol. Z. 2013, 22, 711–728. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- NRC. Nutrient Requirements of Small Ruminants; National Academies Press: Washington, DC, USA, 2007. [Google Scholar]
- Bispo, S.V.; Ferreira, M.d.A.; Véras, A.S.C.; Batista, Â.M.V.; Pessoa, R.A.S.; Bleuel, M.P. Palma Forrageira Em Substituição Ao Feno de Capim-Elefante: Efeito Sobre Consumo, Digestibilidade e Características de Fermentação Ruminal Em Ovinos. Rev. Bras. De Zootec. 2007, 36, 1902–1909. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef][Green Version]
- Valente, T.N.P.; Detmann, E.; de Queiroz, A.C.; Valadares Filho, S.d.C.; Gomes, D.I.; Figueiras, J.F. Evaluation of Ruminal Degradation Profiles of Forages Using Bags Made from Different Textiles. Rev. Bras. De Zootec. 2011, 40, 2565–2573. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Detmann, E.; Silva, L.F.C.; Rocha, G.C.; Palma, M.N.N.; Rodrigues, J.P.P. Métodos Para Análise de Alimentos—INCT; Suprema, Ed.; Suprema: Visconde do Rio Branco, Brazil, 2021. [Google Scholar]
- Silva, J.F.C.; Leão, M.I. Fundamentos de Nutrição Dos Ruminantes; Livroceres, Ed.; Livroceres: Piracicaba, Brazil, 1979. [Google Scholar]
- AOAC. Official Methods of Analysis, 16th ed.; AOAC International, Association of Official Analytical Chemists: Gaithersburg, MD, USA, 1997. [Google Scholar]
- Sniffen, C.J.; O’Connor, J.D.; Van Soest, P.J.; Fox, D.G.; Russell, J.B. A Net Carbohydrate and Protein System for Evaluating Cattle Diets: II. Carbohydrate and Protein Availability. J. Anim. Sci. 1992, 70, 3562–3577. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Hall, M.B. Challenges with Nonfiber Carbohydrate Methods1,2. J. Anim. Sci. 2003, 81, 3226–3232. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Weiss, W.P.; Conrad, H.R.; Pierre, N.R. A Theoretically-Based Model for Predicting Total Digestible Nutrient Values of Forages and Concentrates. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 1992, 39, 95–110. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ferreira, D.F. SISVAR: Um Programa Para Análises e Ensino de Estatística. Rev. Symp. 2008, 6, 36–41. [Google Scholar]
- Dantas Júnior, P.R.; Oliveira, J.S.; Ribeiro, N.L.; Rola, L.D.; Silva, E.G.; Oliveira, A.C.; Almeida, V.V.S.; Lima Júnior, D.M.; Guerra, R.R. Performance and Intestinal Histology of Sheep Fed Detoxified Castor Bean Meal in Sugarcane Silage. S. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 2022, 51, 735–744. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Borja, M.S.; Oliveira, R.L.; Silva, T.M.; Bezerra, L.R.; Nascimento, N.G.; Borja, A.D.P. Effectiveness of Calcium Oxide and Autoclaving for the Detoxification of Castor Seed Meal in Finishing Diets for Lambs. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 2017, 231, 76–88. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Pompeu, R.C.F.F.; Rogério, M.C.P.; Cândido, M.J.D.; Bomfim, M.A.D.; Pereira, E.S.; Lopes, M.N.; de Araújo, R.A. Feeding Behavior of Sheep in Feedlot and Fed with Diets Containing Detoxified Castor Cake in Substitution to the Soybean Meal. Acta Sci. 2022, 44, e54512. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alves, S.P.; Araujo, C.M.; Queiroga, R.C.; Madruga, M.S.; Parente, M.O.M.; Medeiros, A.N.; Bessa, R.J.B. New Insights on the Metabolism of Ricinoleic Acid in Ruminants. J. Dairy Sci. 2017, 100, 8018–8032. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Gandra, J.R.; Del Valle, T.A.; Takiya, C.S.; Freitas, J.E., Jr.; de Oliveira, E.R.; Gandra, E.R.d.S.; Pedrini, C.A.; Mendes, P.V.C. Effects of Ricinoleic Acid from Castor Oil and Cashew Nutshell Liquid on Nutrient Digestibility and Ruminal Fermentation in Dairy Heifers. Rev. Bras. De Saúde E Produção Anim. 2022, 23, e21442022–e21442035. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Table 1.
Chemical composition of the silage treatments and of the ingredients used for formulation of the experimental diets.
Table 1.
Chemical composition of the silage treatments and of the ingredients used for formulation of the experimental diets.
| Nutritional Characteristic (g/kg of Dry Matter) | Castor Meal Dose 1 (% Fresh Matter) | Castor Meal | Ground Corn | Soybean Meal | Sugarcane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 10% | 20% | 40% | |||||
| Dry matter (g/kg fresh matter) | 213.63 | 232.13 | 269.26 | 308.67 | 865.45 | 856.60 | 873.61 | 301.52 |
| Mineral matter | 71.90 | 73.96 | 97.07 | 84.21 | 103.70 | 20.29 | 64.98 | 75.25 |
| Organic matter | 928.10 | 926.04 | 902.93 | 915.79 | 896.30 | 979.71 | 935.02 | 943.47 |
| Crude protein | 43.90 | 97.40 | 140.10 | 182.20 | 380.10 | 85.60 | 491.20 | 46.33 |
| Ether extract | 34.55 | 59.04 | 44.73 | 48.07 | 7.68 | 66.89 | 134.57 | 38.80 |
| Neutral detergent fiber | 707.98 | 599.58 | 608.92 | 532.97 | 412.98 | 249.46 | 235.36 | 715.31 |
| Acid detergent fiber | 176.00 | 160.45 | 128.50 | 138.60 | 64.10 | 14.30 | 36.40 | 194.65 |
| Total carbohydrates | 849.65 | 769.60 | 718.10 | 685.53 | 508.52 | 827.21 | 309.24 | 855.345 |
| Non-fiber carbohydrate | 141.68 | 170.02 | 149.18 | 152.55 | 95.54 | 577.75 | 73.88 | 146.67 |
1 Castor meal dose (DCM) (0, 10, 20, and 40% on a natural matter [NM] basis of sugarcane silage) is equivalent to 0, 5, 10, and 20%, respectively, on a natural matter basis of the total diet.
Table 2.
Proportion of ingredients in the experimental diets and chemical composition of experimental diets.
Table 2.
Proportion of ingredients in the experimental diets and chemical composition of experimental diets.
| Ingredients (% Fresh Matter) | Castor Meal Dose 1 (% Fresh Matter) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 10% | 20% | 40% | |
| Detoxified castor meal | 0.00 | 4.75 | 9.51 | 19.01 |
| Ground corn | 31.46 | 35.41 | 40.40 | 50.38 |
| Soybean meal | 18.77 | 14.97 | 9.98 | 0.00 |
| Sugarcane | 47.53 | 42.77 | 38.01 | 28.51 |
| Urea | 0.14 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Mineral mix | 1.14 | 1.14 | 1.14 | 1.14 |
| Ammonium chloride | 0.95 | 0.95 | 0.95 | 0.95 |
| Ammonium sulfate | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Nutritional characteristic (g/kg of dry matter) 2 | ||||
| Dry matter (g/kg fresh matter) | 557.18 | 587.30 | 617.47 | 677.80 |
| Mineral matter | 52.75 | 52.60 | 51.88 | 50.44 |
| Organic matter | 924.85 | 926.50 | 927.22 | 928.66 |
| Crude protein | 143.94 | 140.68 | 136.44 | 127.90 |
| Ether extract | 62.73 | 58.98 | 54.32 | 45.01 |
| Neutral detergent fiber | 459.16 | 446.06 | 432.72 | 406.10 |
| Acid detergent fiber | 94.98 | 88.85 | 82.42 | 69.58 |
| Total carbohydrates | 722.13 | 726.85 | 736.45 | 755.74 |
| Non-fiber carbohydrates | 262.97 | 280.79 | 303.74 | 349.64 |
| Total digestible nutrients | 797.04 | 772.05 | 743.26 | 685.71 |
1 Castor meal dose (DCM) (0, 10, 20, and 40% on a natural matter [NM] basis of sugarcane silage) is equivalent to 0, 5, 10, and 20%, respectively, on a natural matter basis of the total diet. 2 Nutritional characterization of the experimental diets expressed in grams per kilogram based on dry matter basis of the total diet.
Table 3.
Nutrient intake of sheep feeding on sugarcane silage containing increasing doses of detoxified castor meal and significance of the linear regression.
Table 3.
Nutrient intake of sheep feeding on sugarcane silage containing increasing doses of detoxified castor meal and significance of the linear regression.
| Nutrient Intake (kg/day) | Castor Meal Dose 1 (% Fresh Matter) | SEM 2 | p-Value 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 10% | 20% | 40% | L | Q | ||
| Dry matter based on body weight (kg) | 4.579 | 4.630 | 4.411 | 4.533 | 0.16 | 0.706 | 0.657 |
| Dry matter (g/kg0.75) 4 | 1.065 | 1.094 | 0.999 | 1.068 | 0.03 | 0.778 | 0.360 |
| Dry matter | 1.049 | 1.120 | 1.001 | 1.095 | 0.68 | 0.516 | 0.953 |
| Organic matter | 0.969 | 1.038 | 0.927 | 0.946 | 0.63 | 0.550 | 0.948 |
| Crude protein 5 | 0.157 | 0.151 | 0.135 | 0.128 | 0.09 | 0.038 | 0.906 |
| Ether extract 6 | 0.068 | 0.065 | 0.055 | 0.044 | 0.03 | 0.001 | 0.827 |
| Neutral detergent fiber | 0.464 | 0.487 | 0.416 | 0.412 | 0.29 | 0.108 | 0.926 |
| Total carbohydrate | 0.754 | 0.814 | 0.735 | 0.773 | 0.50 | 0.971 | 0.989 |
| Non-fiber carbohydrate | 0.515 | 0.552 | 0.506 | 0.559 | 0.24 | 0.357 | 0.642 |
1 Castor meal dose (DCM) (0, 10, 20, and 40% on a natural matter [NM] basis of sugarcane silage) is equivalent to 0, 5, 10, and 20%, respectively, on a natural matter basis of the total diet. 2 SEM: standard error of the mean. 3 p-value: significant p-value (p < 0.05) for linear (L) or quadratic (Q) order effects. 4 0.75: Metabolic weight; 5 Crude protein: Y = 0.1553 − 0.0006x (R2 = 0.7504); 6 Ether extract: Y = 0.0696 − 0.0006x (R2 = 0.9739).
Table 4.
Nutrient digestibility of sheep feeding on sugarcane silage containing increasing doses of detoxified castor bean meal and the significance of the linear regression.
Table 4.
Nutrient digestibility of sheep feeding on sugarcane silage containing increasing doses of detoxified castor bean meal and the significance of the linear regression.
| Digestibility of Nutrients (g/kg) | Castor Meal Dose 1 (% Fresh Matter) | SEM 2 | p-Value 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 10% | 20% | 40% | L | Q | ||
| Dry matter | 909.58 | 899.06 | 920.54 | 890.60 | 8.39 | 0.207 | 0.189 |
| Organic matter | 713.11 | 689.93 | 721.79 | 654.20 | 22.09 | 0.096 | 0.332 |
| Crude protein 4 | 754.15 | 669.74 | 665.19 | 472.88 | 36.40 | 0.001 | 0.436 |
| Ether extract 5 | 813.02 | 802.42 | 783.73 | 725.08 | 23.83 | 0.018 | 0.429 |
| Neutral detergent fiber | 582.19 | 536.92 | 606.20 | 514.28 | 32.23 | 0.247 | 0.389 |
| Non-fiber carbohydrate | 882.17 | 907.64 | 882.19 | 869.66 | 17.43 | 0.368 | 0.454 |
| Total carbohydrate | 697.49 | 686.25 | 726.08 | 680.32 | 22.57 | 0.733 | 0.345 |
1 Castor meal dose (DCM) (0, 10, 20, and 40% on a natural matter [NM] basis of sugarcane silage) is equivalent to 0, 5, 10, and 20%, respectively, on a natural matter basis of the total diet. 2 SEM: standard error of the mean. 3 p-value: significant p-value (p < 0.05) for linear (L) or quadratic (Q) order effects. 4 Crude protein: Y = 758.8466 − 6.7633x (R2 = 0.9423); 5 Ether extract: Y = 816.7708 − 2.0404x (R2 = 0.7888).
Table 5.
Performance of sheep feeding on sugarcane silage containing increasing doses of detoxified castor meal and the significance of the linear regression analysis.
Table 5.
Performance of sheep feeding on sugarcane silage containing increasing doses of detoxified castor meal and the significance of the linear regression analysis.
| Performance Indicator (kg) | Castor Meal Dose 1 (% Fresh Matter) | SEM 2 | p-Value 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 10% | 20% | 40% | L | Q | ||
| Final body weight | 23.85 | 24.39 | 22.75 | 24.15 | 9.27 | 0.995 | 0.490 |
| Weight gain | 6.19 | 6.99 | 6.32 | 7.05 | 5.60 | 0.415 | 0.992 |
| Average daily gain (kg/day) | 0.15 | 0.14 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.11 | 0.428 | 0.985 |
| Feed efficiency | 0.111 | 0.118 | 0.126 | 0.130 | 0.08 | 0.103 | 0.585 |
1 Castor meal dose (DCM) (0, 10, 20, and 40% on a natural matter [NM] basis of sugarcane silage) is equivalent to 0, 5, 10, and 20%, respectively, on a natural matter basis of the total diet. 2 SEM: standard error of the mean. 3 p-value: significant p-value (p < 0.05) for linear (L) or quadratic (Q) order effects.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Corrêa, Y.R.; Medeiros, G.R.d.; Oliveira, J.S.d.; Neves, R.d.S.; Pereira, D.M.; Sousa, M.F.d.; Severino, L.S.; Macêdo, A.J.d.S.; Pereira, A.L.; Santana, L.P.; et al. Detoxified Castor Bean Meal as a Protein Supplement in Sugarcane Silage for Sheep: Intake, Digestibility, and Performance. Appl. Sci. 2026, 16, 1741. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041741
AMA Style
Corrêa YR, Medeiros GRd, Oliveira JSd, Neves RdS, Pereira DM, Sousa MFd, Severino LS, Macêdo AJdS, Pereira AL, Santana LP, et al. Detoxified Castor Bean Meal as a Protein Supplement in Sugarcane Silage for Sheep: Intake, Digestibility, and Performance. Applied Sciences. 2026; 16(4):1741. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041741
Chicago/Turabian StyleCorrêa, Yohana Rosaly, Geovergue Rodrigues de Medeiros, Juliana Silva de Oliveira, Romildo da Silva Neves, Danillo Marte Pereira, Manoel Francisco de Sousa, Liv Soares Severino, Alberto Jefferson da Silva Macêdo, Anderson Lopes Pereira, Liliane Pereira Santana, and et al. 2026. "Detoxified Castor Bean Meal as a Protein Supplement in Sugarcane Silage for Sheep: Intake, Digestibility, and Performance" Applied Sciences 16, no. 4: 1741. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041741
APA StyleCorrêa, Y. R., Medeiros, G. R. d., Oliveira, J. S. d., Neves, R. d. S., Pereira, D. M., Sousa, M. F. d., Severino, L. S., Macêdo, A. J. d. S., Pereira, A. L., Santana, L. P., Gomes, P. G. B., Ramos, J. P. d. F., Guerra, R. R., & Santos, E. M. (2026). Detoxified Castor Bean Meal as a Protein Supplement in Sugarcane Silage for Sheep: Intake, Digestibility, and Performance. Applied Sciences, 16(4), 1741. https://doi.org/10.3390/app16041741
Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.
