Use of monensin and essential oils in high concentrate diets provided abruptly to Nellore cattle confined

• Grant number: 11/17985-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2011
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Roberto Leme
• Grantee: Paulo Roberto Leme
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ruminants fed on high concentrate diets in the initial phase of confinement can increase the occurrence of ruminal acidosis. The use of feed additives capable of stabilizing the rumen fermentation, such as monensin and essential oils, decreases the formation of acidosis precursors, which can enable the abrupt transition to high concentrate diets. The aim of this study is to evaluate dry matter intake, ruminal parameters, blood chemistry and starch digestibility of Nellore cattle abruptly fed high concentrate diets and receiving different feed additives. Twelve cannulated Nellore steers will receive a high concentrate diet (85%) abruptly at the initial phase of the confinement, according to the following treatments: control (no additives); 30 ppm monensin (MON1); 40 ppm monensin (MON2) e 400 ppm essential oil (EO) in a randomized block design with repeated measures over time in two experimental periods of 23 days each, with 40 days for readaptation of the rumen to forage diet. Samples of ruminal microorganisms and parameters, blood chemistry, starch digestibility, feeding behavior and dry matter intake will be collected during all experimental periods to evaluate the response of each animal due to treatments. Therefore, it will be possible to reach practical conclusions about the biological viability of abrupt use of high concentrate diets, through feed additives. (AU)