Monensin and a blend of castor oil and cashew nut shell liquid used in a high-concentrate diet abruptly fed to Nellore cattle

Author(s)

Claiton André Zotti

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Pirassununga.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Zootecnica e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZE/BT)
• Defense date: 2014-05-21

Examining board members

Paulo Roberto Leme; Wignez Henrique; Carolina Tobias Marino; Paulo Henrique Mazza Rodrigues

• Advisor: Paulo Roberto Leme; Paulo Henrique Mazza Rodrigues

Abstract

Monensin and functional oils were evaluated in high-concentrate diet abruptly fed to 12 ruminally canullated steers. A randomized complete block design with repeated measures over time within two experimental periods of 21 days each was used, with at least six weeks for readaptation of steers to forage diet. In the high-concentrate basal diet (92.25% of concentrate) the follow treatments were added: no additives (CTR); 400 mg of castor oil and cashew nut shell liquid/kg of DMI (FO); 30 mg monensin/kg of DMI (M30) and 40 mg monensin/kg of DMI (M40). The ruminal variables, blood metabolites, feeding behaviour and microbial variable were determined. Each steer was analysed as an experimental unit. Data were analysed by Proc Mixed with time after feeding used as repeated measures.Treatment M40 showed lower ruminal total short chain fatty acids (P = 0.017), lactate concentration (P = 0.0012) and osmolality (P = 0.04). The dry matter intake expressed by kg/day (P = 0.008) and porcenteage of body weight (P = 0.045), as well as mean rumen pH (P = 0.04), propionate (P = 0.034) and valerate (P = 0.031) molar proportion had significative interaction between treatment and day. The treatment M30 showed lower acetate:propionate ratio (P = 0.03). Treatments did not change the feed behaviour (P ≥ 0.05), behavioural activities (P ≥ 0.05), and relative expression of Fibrobacter succinogenes (P = 0.465), Streptococcus bovis (P = 0.781) and Megasphaera elsdenii (P = 0.972). The blood packed volume cell, osmolality and pH were unaffected by treatments (P ≥ 0.05), but high propensity to systemic acid-base imbalance were observed in CTR diet. Feed additives had different effects to reduce the subacute acidosis. The use of FO and M40 did not change most of the rumen fermentation variables, especially in the first week after abrupt transition, where M30 provided higher protection against acidosis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/17369-1 - Use of monensin and essential oils in high concentrate diets provided abruptly to Nellore cattle confined
• Grantee: Claiton André Zotti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate