&lt;b&gt;Glycerin and essential oils in the diet of Nellore bulls finished in feedlot: animal performance and apparent digestibility

Lorrayny Galoro Da Silva,Juliana Akamine Torrecilhas,Carlos Emanuel Eiras,Rodolpho Martin Do Prado,Mariana Garcia Ornaghi,Ivanor Nunes Do Prado

doi:10.4025/actascianimsci.v36i2.23089

<b>Glycerin and essential oils in the diet of Nellore bulls finished in feedlot: animal performance and apparent digestibility

Lorrayny Galoro Da Silva, Juliana Akamine Torrecilhas + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v36i2.23089

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Abstract

Current research studied the effect of partial replacing corn by glycerin and essential oils addition in the diet of Nellore bulls finished in feedlot. Thirty bulls with average weight 400 ± 34.1 kg were housed in collective pens (10 x 20 m2) for 63 days. The bulls were randomly assigned to 3 diets (10 bulls per treatment): CON - Control (without glycerin or Essential® oils); GLY - Glycerin (15% on dry matter - DM); and GEO - Glycerin (15% on DM) and Essential® oils (3 g animal day-1). Three different markers were used to estimate apparent digestibility in the diets: indigestible dry matter - iDM; indigestible neutral detergent fiber - iNDF; and purified lignin - LIPE®. Feed efficiency and animal performance were not affected by the corn partial replacing by glycerin. Partial corn replacing by glycerin and Essential® oils addition in the diets increased the DM and organic matter apparent digestibility for bulls. The glycerin addition in the diet decreased NDF, fibrous carbohydrate and non-fibrous carbohydrate digestibility. Apparent digestibility estimated by markers iDM, iNDF and LIPE® were similar to all nutrients in the diet.

Highlights

Intensive systems of cattle production improve animal performance and meat quality (PRADO et al, 2008; DUCATTI et al, 2009; PRADO et al, 2009; FUGITA et al, 2012); it demands higher investments and technological alternatives (SILVA et al, 2010)
Similar results were found on animal performance and feed efficiency by Mach et al (2009) with glycerin addition of 4, 8 and 12% in the diets for cattle finished in feedlot
Few studies have been published on essential oils addition as additives in the diets for beef cattle finished in feedlot on animal performance, feed intake and feed efficiency

Summary

Introduction

Intensive systems of cattle production improve animal performance and meat quality (PRADO et al, 2008; DUCATTI et al, 2009; PRADO et al, 2009; FUGITA et al, 2012); it demands higher investments and technological alternatives (SILVA et al, 2010). To improve the production of beef cattle finished in feedlot, it is necessary to employ high energy density diets (NRC, 2000). In order to increase the energy density in diets it is necessary to use cereals and co-products from. Previous studies demonstrated that glycerin is an excellent energy source and can partially replace corn grain in ruminant diets (MACH et al, 2009; EIRAS et al, 2013; FRANÇOZO et al, 2013; EIRAS et al, 2014). Various substances have been used to control ruminal fermentation, mainly additives from plant extracts and oils to replace ionophores (BENCHAAR et al, 2008; VALERO et al, 2011; ZAWADZKI, et al, 2011a and b)

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