Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of 30% propolis ethanol extract (PEE) and sodium monensin on the intake of dry matter, nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation and hematological parameters in sheep. Six adult castrated male sheep fistulated in the rumen were assigned to a 6 x 6 Latin square design. The addition of PEE or sodium monensin to the diet did not change the digestibility coefficients of dry matter (79.4%), crude protein (77.0%), neutral detergent fiber (76.1%), acid detergent fiber (69.7%), hemicellulose (80.9%), and organic matter (79.4%). Sheep fed diets with inclusion of sodium monensin showed 11.3% reduction in dry matter intake (1.76 kg day -1 ) compared to those which received PEE (2.00 kg day -1 ). The inclusion of additives to the diet influenced ruminal pH: higher values were observed in sheep fed sodium monensin (6.1). Mean levels of ammonia nitrogen (7.3 mg dL -1 ) were similar between treatments. Biochemical serum parameters of glucose (59.4 mg dL -1 ), urea (8.9 mg dL -1 ) total protein (6.8 g dL -1 ) and albumin (2.5 g dL -1 ) were within the reference range for the ovine species. Sodium monensin was more efficient to maintain ruminal pH at higher levels and to reduce the dry matter intake. However, the addition of PEE did not affect the nutrient digestibility in sheep fed 50:50 forage: concentrate ratio.
Highlights
The use of feed additives, mainly ionophore antibiotics, has become common aiming to increase meat production, reduce or prevent diseases, reduce the age at slaughter and, improve the quality of animal derived foods (Prado, 2010a; Valero et al, 2011; Zawadzki et al, 2011a and b)
The results observed are different from those obtained by Prado et al (2010a), who evaluated the effect of including propolis or sodium monensin on in vitro digestibility of dry matter in diets with 50:50 forage concentrate ratio
These authors found a DMADC of 53.0% in control experiment; an 8.3% increase (p < 0.05) of in vitro DMADC according to the inclusion of propolis based product (DMADC 57.3%) and a 6.2% DMADC increase according to the addition of sodium monensin (DMADC 54%)
Summary
The use of feed additives, mainly ionophore antibiotics, has become common aiming to increase meat production, reduce or prevent diseases, reduce the age at slaughter and, improve the quality of animal derived foods (Prado, 2010a; Valero et al, 2011; Zawadzki et al, 2011a and b). Júnior et al (2004), ionophores act on ruminal microbes and inhibit gram-negative species. These bacterial species are the main responsible for amino acid deamination and produce unwanted gases, such as methane and ammonia. The inhibition of these bacteria increases the production of propionate and the levels of blood glucose.
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