Gene expression, oocyte quality and embryo production by cloning in goats supplemented with different diets

- Use of alternative foodstuffs in goats diet did not affect oocyte quality and cloning procedures.
- Diets tested induced under expression of GDF9 gene but did not alter oocyte developmental capacity.
- Palm fruit increased oocyte recovery and glucose concentrations in the follicular fluid.
- The use of alternative food ingredients can be an economic and viable alternative for goat production in tropical regions.

The goal of this study was to assess the effect of using native food sources (cashew apple bagasse (Anacardium occidentale), cassava root scrapings (Manihot esculenta), and wax palm fruit (Copernicia prunifera)) as corn replacement in the balanced feed of goats as oocyte donors for cloning procedures. After four weeks of feeding, we evaluated follicular development and fluid composition, in vivo maturation rate and oocyte competence assessed by in vitro embryo production by cloning, and the expression pattern of GDF9, BMP15, BAX, and BCL2 gene products in oocytes. Type of feed had no effect on the live weight and sternal subcutaneous fat thickness in goats, measured prior to oocyte harvesting. Inclusion of wax palm fruit in the foodstuff significantly increased the number of aspirated follicles, number of recovered oocytes, and glucose concentrations in the follicular fluid. However, maturation rates and in vitro embryo yield were not affected by the type of foodstuff. Our results also showed that the test diets induced underexpression of GDF9 and did not affect oocyte developmental capacity or the efficiency of the cloning process under our experimental conditions. In general, inclusion of alternative foodstuff in the diet of adult oocyte donor goats as replacement for corn was effective in maintaining oocyte developmental capacity, being as successful in supporting in vitro embryo production by cloning procedures in goats. The alternative food ingredients used for a period of four weeks can effectively replace corn in the diet without appearing to compromise animal health and fertility, which is an economic and viable alternative for goat production in tropical regions, contributing to the current trend in global sustainability.