Histologic changes in liver tissue of sheep fed spineless cactus resistant to Dactylopius opuntiae

This study aimed to assess the effects of diets containing spineless cactus genotypes resistant carmine cochineal insect (Dactylopius opuntiae) on liver condition sheep. Thirty-six non-castrated Santa Inês male sheep (six months age and average initial body weight 22.0 ± 2.9 kg) were assigned a completely randomized design, with three treatments 12 replicates. The animals fed diet Tifton hay as exclusive roughage (control) two more in which was partially replaced by ‘Miúda’ or ‘Orelha de Elefante Mexicana’ (OEM.) cactus. randomly slaughtered at 86 days after 16-h solid fast. use cactus, regardless genotype, increased caused inflammatory processes necrosis parenchyma. Spineless for confined days, despite causing tissue damage, such inflammation death process hepatocytes, does not compromise gain.