PSXIV-10 Evaluation of an alternative to sodium monensin use in Nellore cattle finished on pasture with high-intake supplementation

Abstract

Abstract The objective was to evaluate the effects of Alltech® Advantage Confinamento (a proprietary blend of trace minerals and yeast) on performance and carcass traits of Nellore cattle finished with high-intake supplementation during the dry season. Fifty-two Nellore bulls [526 ± 5.71 kg of body weight (BW); age of 28 mo old] were distributed in a randomized block design (block = BW). Four animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment to estimate the initial hot carcass weight (HCW). The remaining animals were divided into two treatments: ad libitum supplementation (estimated daily intake = 20 g/kg BW; crude protein = 14%; total digestible nutrients = 74%) with sodium monensin or Advantage Confinamento (29.9 mg or 3 g/kg of dry matter of supplement, respectively). The animals were evaluated for 112 days (28 days of adaptation and three periods of 28 days; June to October, 2018). The experimental area was divided into 12 paddocks (one ha each; Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu). Each paddock had four automatic feeders (Intergado®) and two animals per treatment. The feeders allowed the evaluation of individual supplement intake on pasture. There was no difference between monensin and Advantage Confinamento for final BW (641 vs 646 kg, P = 0.6120), average daily gain (1.04 vs 1.09 kg, P = 0.5383), carcass gain (0.781 vs 0.815 kg/day, P = 0.5101), final HCW (380 vs 384 kg, P = 0.5421) and dressing percentage (59.4 vs 59.5 %, P = 0.8208). In conclusion, Advantage Confinamento provided support for optimal growth performance equal to the use of sodium monensin when Nellore bulls were finished with high-intake supplementation on pasture during the dry season.