BACKGROUND Jatropha is an oilseed crop with high kernel oil (55–58%) and protein (26–29%) contents, which makes it a good source of biodiesel and animal/aqua‐feed. However, the presence of anti‐nutritional toxins, such as phorbol esters, lectins, trypsin inhibitor, phytate, and saponins, restricts its use as feed. This paper describes chemical, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and biological treatments for detoxification of jatropha kernel meal. Raw, defatted, and one‐time and two‐times mechanically expressed oil samples were analyzed for toxins. Chemical treatment involved heating with 90% methanol and 4% sodium hydroxide. UV treatment was carried out at UV light intensity of 53.4 mW cm−2 for 30 min. For biological treatment, cell‐free extract from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (strain PAO1) was mixed with kernel meal for detoxification. RESULTS Among treatments, chemical treatment was most effective in reducing all toxins, with phorbol esters in the range 0.034–0.052 mg g−1, lectin 0.082–10.766 mg g−1, trypsin inhibitor 10.499–11.350 mg g−1, phytate 2.475–5.769 mg g−1, and saponins 0.044–0.098 mg g−1. Biological treatment reduced all toxins except phytate, whereas UV treatment could not reduce any of toxins and, hence, cannot be used for aqua‐feed preparation. Pellets prepared from chemically detoxified kernel meal with the least oil content (defatted) resulted in the highest strength (70.93 N). CONCLUSION Chemically treated jatropha kernel meal can be used for aqua‐feed pellet preparation because of its low toxin content. The highest compressive strength was obtained for pellets with the least oil content (defatted). Biological treatment time must have been extended for many hours instead of 24 h. Jatropha kernel meal treated chemically can be recommended for aqua‐feed manufacturing. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry

When creating any new anti-parasitic interventions, it is important to evaluate their effects across all life stages. This study had three objectives, which were to evaluate the effect of feeding cranberry vine pellet (CVP) on (1) ewes’ body weights and BCS during late gestation and lactation; (2) ewes’ milk quality during lactation; and (3) lambs’ body weight and growth parameters from birth to 65 days of age. Across two years, 41 Dorset ewes were fed either a 50% CVP or a matching control pellet (CON) from 104 ± 1.60 days of gestation for 62.8 ± 0.68 days of lactation. Measurements were collected from ewes (BW, BCS, and milk) and lambs (BW and body size). Milk from CVP ewes exhibited reduced milk fat and solids (p < 0.01) and increased concentrations of milk urea nitrogen (p = 0.02) when evaluated for the treatment–time. There was no significant difference in the BCS, protein, lamb BW, or growth measurements for treatment–time (p ≥ 0.05). Additional research that targets blood biochemistry and metabolic assessments is needed to fully determine the impact of this pellet on ewes and lambs.

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of feeding cranberry vine (CV) on milk components during early lactation as part of a larger study on the antiparasitic efficacy of CV supplementation on ewes during the periparturient period. Ewes were fed a 50% CV pellet (CVP; n = 12) or a control pellet (CON; n = 13) beginning at 102±1 d of pregnancy until d 65±1 postpartum. The CV pellet fed was formulated to be equivalent in digestible dry matter to the control pellet. BW was determined weekly during the study and milk samples were collected weekly during lactation. Data were analyzed in SAS with repeated measures. Ewe BW were similar at the start of study (180.36lbs ± 4.70lbs; P = 0.43) however by wk 8 postpartum CVP ewes weighed less than CON ewes (CON: 212.31lbs±7.86lbs; CVP: 185.58lbs±8.00lbs; P = 0.04). There was a treatment*wk effect observed for milk fat, protein and MUN (P ≤ 0.05). Ewes fed CVP exhibited reduced milk fat at wks 2 (CON: 6.75%±0.63%; CVP: 6.06%±0.58%; P = 0.03) and 5 (CON: 6.66%±0.37%; CVP: 5.54%±0.26%; P = 0.05), milk protein was reduced in CVP ewes at wk 2 (CON: 4.92%±0.12%; CVP: 4.72%±0.19%; P = 0.05) and MUN was greater at weeks 4 (CON: 22.89±0.7mg/dL; CVP: 27.93±0.85mg/dL; P = 0.01) and 8 (CON: 24.80±0.51mg/dL; CVP: 26.64±0.86mg/dL; P &lt; 0.01) in CVP ewes. Somatic cell analysis is pending. In conclusion, CVP supplementation during lactation affects milk composition in sheep. Studies are underway to determine the effect of CV supplementation on additional metabolic parameters in pregnant and lactating ewes.