USE OF CITRUS ESSENTIAL OIL AS AN ADDITIVE IN SUGARCANE SILAGE AND/OR IN THE DIET OF SHEEP

• Grant number: 24/07483-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal Investigator: Mariana Campana
• Grantee: Paulo Dias Sobires
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sugarcane can be used as roughage in the feeding of ruminants. When used in the form of silage, it promotes its use by concentrating operational activities and also facilitates the proper management of the cane field. However, sugarcane silage presents fermentative problems that can be minimized with the use of additives. Data from the literature demonstrate that essential oils (EO) can beneficially aid this process. Limonene is a citrus EO that has great potential for use as an additive in ruminant feeding. It can bring benefits to the fermentation of sugarcane silage and, when added directly to the diet, has positive effects on animal health and performance. Therefore, the objective of this work is to evaluate the performance of sheep fed with sugarcane silage, which is enhanced during ensiling and/or feeding with citrus EO. Eight sheep will be arranged in a Latin square design in a 4x4 double factorial scheme, with treatments composed of the addition of essential oil during ensiling (OEE- or OEE+) and/or feeding (OEA- or OEA+). The parameters evaluated will include bromatological analysis and in vitro degradation of food samples, leftovers and feces, animal weight, nutrient consumption and digestibility. It is expected that the addition of citrus EO will positively influence the performance of ruminants due to the inclusion of EO in the silage and/or diet.