Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2023 Mar 13;55(2):107.
doi: 10.1007/s11250-023-03522-6.

Can phytogenic additives replace monensin sodium in beef cattle feeding?

Méry Cristina de Sá Assis  1 , Gabriela Rayane da Rocha Costa  1 , Francisca Mônica Couras Dias  1 , Camila Sousa da Silva  1 , Jucelane Salvino de Lima  2 , Thaysa Rodrigues Torres  1 , Dulciene Karla de Andrade Silva  3 , Evaristo Jorge Oliveira de Souza  4
Affiliations

Can phytogenic additives replace monensin sodium in beef cattle feeding?

Méry Cristina de Sá Assis et al. Trop Anim Health Prod. .

Abstract

Monensin sodium is one of the most common ionophores used in livestock feeding; however, ionophores are condemned by organized consumer groups. Bioactive compounds from plants found in the seasonally dry tropical forest have similar mechanisms of action as ionophores. The aim was to investigate the effects of replacing monensin sodium with phytogenic additives on the nutritional efficiency of beef cattle. Five 14-month-old Nellore bulls (average body weight 452.68 ± 42.60 kg) were used in the study. The experiment was designed as a 5 × 5 Latin Square (five treatments and five 22-day experimental periods). Within each period, 15 days were used for adaptation of animals to experimental conditions and 7 days for data collection. Bulls were fed a control diet (without additives), monensin (a diet containing monensin sodium 40% as a synthetic additive), and three diets containing phytogenic additives prepared from Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth) Brenan, Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd) Poiret, or Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. Nutritional efficiency was assessed through feed intake, nutrient digestibility, feeding behavior, and hematological parameters. Monensin and phytogenic additives did not influence (P > 0.05) feeding behavior or hematological parameters, but the nutrient intake was highest for bulls supplemented phytogenic additives (P < 0.05). Monensin supplementation did not influence (P > 0.05) feed intake. The phytogenic additives and monensin sodium increased (P < 0.05) the nutrient digestibility. Therefore, the phytogenic additives from P. juliflora, A. macrocarpa, and M. tenuiflora can be recommended to enhance the nutritional efficiency of confined Nellore cattle.

Keywords: Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan; Ionophores; Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd) Poiret; Natural drugs; Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Alves Júnior, R.T., Souza, E.J.O., Melo, A.A.S., Silva, D.K.A., Torres, T.R., Pereira, G.F.C., Silva, C.S., Silva, J.R.C., 2017. Mesquite extract as phytogenic additive to improve the nutrition of sheep. Journal of Agricultural Science, 9:164-174. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v9n7p164 - DOI
    1. AOAC. 1990. Official Methods of Analysis. 15th edition. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Washington, D.C.
    1. Araújo, J.S.C., Castilho, A.R.F., Lira, A.B., Pereira, A.V., Azevêdo, T.K.B., Brito, C.E.M.M., Pereira, M.D.S.V., Pessôa, H.L.F., Pereira, J.V., 2018. Antibacterial activity against cariogenic bacteria and cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of Anacardium occidentale L. and Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan extracts. Archives of Oral Biology, 85:113-119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archoralbio.2017.10.008 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Aufrere, J., Theodoridou, K., Mueller-Harvey, I., Yu P., Andueza, D., 2014. Ruminal dry matter and nitrogen degradation in relation to condensed tannin and protein molecular structures in sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and lucerne (Medicago sativa). Journal of Agricultural Science, 152:333-345. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021859613000452 - DOI
    1. Azevêdo, J.A.G., Valadares Filho, S.C., Costa e Silva, L.F., Santos, A.D., Souza, L.L., Rotta, P.P., Valadares Filho, S.C., 2016. Regulação e predição de consumo de matéria seca. In: Valadares Filho SC. Exigência Nutricionais de Zebuínos Puros e Cruzados, BR-Corte. Viçosa, UFV, DZO, pp. 15–43.

LinkOut - more resources