Effects of monensin and a blend of magnesium oxide on performance, feeding behavior, and rumen morphometrics of Zebu beef cattle fed high-starch diets.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a blend of different sources of magnesium oxide associated or not with monensin, on productive, ruminal, and nutritional parameters of steers. Eighty-four Nellore steers with an initial body weight (BW) of 367.3 ±â€…37.9 kg were allocated to one of 28 pens, with three steers per pen. Each pen was considered an experimental unit. Using a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, the following treatments were assigned to each pen: 1) Control (CON)-a basal diet without additive inclusion; 2) Magnesium oxide blend (MG)-basal diet plus a magnesium-based product (pHix-up, Timab Magnesium, Dinard, France) provided at 0.50% of dry matter (DM); 3) Monensin (MON)-basal diet plus 25 mg/ kg of DM of sodium monensin (Rumensin, Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN); and 4) MG association with MON-basal diet plus MG + MON, at the same doses of the individual treatments. The experimental period lasted 100 d. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 13, and 70 to determine d-lactate levels. Daily feed intake was recorded, and animal ingestive behavior was visually observed on days 66 and 67. On day 70, skeletal muscle tissue samples were obtained through biopsy for gene expression analysis. At the end of the experimental period, carcass ultrasonography was conducted. Subsequently, the steers were slaughtered, and rumen epithelium samples were collected for morphometric analysis. The use of monensin, of magnesium oxide blend, and their interactions, were treated as fixed effects, while the pens were considered as a random effect. Statistical differences were considered when P < 0.05. Steers-fed MG-containing diets consumed approximately 0.6 kg more DM per day than those fed diets without this additive (P = 0.01; 11.3 vs. 11.9 kg/d). The inclusion of MG in the diet increased (P = 0.02) the average daily gain. There was a greater Longissimus muscle area (LMA) and LMA per 100 kg of BW (P ≤ 0.03) for steers-fed diets with MG. Steers-fed MON exhibited reduced mRNA expression of the Atrogin-1 and mTOR compared to steers-fed MG + MON diets (MON × MG: P ≤ 0.04). Steers-fed MON had 6.9% greater feed efficiency (P = 0.02). Papillae width was lesser for CON than other treatments (MON × MG: P = 0.02). In conclusion, the magnesium oxide blend improved performance and carcass traits in high-energy feedlot diets, while monensin enhanced feed efficiency, suggesting potential for their use as alternatives or complements in beef cattle nutrition.

Oleoresins from chili pepper and turmeric could substitute for salinomycin in broilers / Oleoresinas de pimiento y cúrcuma podrian reemplazar la salinomicina en pollos de engorde / Oleoresinas de pimenta chilli e cúrcuma podem substituir a salinomicina em frangos de corte

Abstract Background: Coccidiosis is the infectious disease with the greatest economic impact in poultry production. Additionally, chemotherapeutic growth promoters are being substituted for safer alternative strategies. Objective: To evaluate the effect of feeding oleoresins from chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) and turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) on the performance, survival rate, and the Productive Efficiency Index of broilers from 1 to 21d challenged by Eimeria sp. Methods: A total of 700 male 1-day-old chicks (Cobb 500) challenged with Eimeria sp, were assigned to a completely randomized design with four treatments: (1) negative control diet, without anticoccidial agent or growth promoters; (2) control diet+0.05% salinomycin; (3) negative control diet+100g/ton; and (4) negative control diet +140g/ton of test product (Curcuma longa L. plus Capsicum annuum oleoresins). Results: Body weight, weight gain, feed conversion and Productive Efficiency Index did not differ between broilers fed anticoccidial chemotherapeutics and oleoresins. In addition, there was no difference in feed intake and survival rate between dietary treatments. Conclusion: Broilers supplemented with chili pepper and turmeric oleoresins from 1 to 21d present similar body weight, weight gain, feed conversion, and Productive Efficiency Index compared to broilers supplemented with chemotherapeutic anticoccidials without affecting feed intake or survival rate.

Resumen Antecedentes: El impacto económico generado por la coccidiosis en el sector avícola es el mayor en relación con otras enfermedades. Adicionalmente, los promotores de crecimiento quimioterapéuticos se han venido reemplazando por estrategias alternativas. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de oleorresinas de pimiento (Capsicum annuum) y cúrcuma (Curcuma longa L.) sobre el desempeño zootécnico, tasa de supervivencia y el Índice de Eficiencia Productiva en pollos de engorde de 1 a 21 dias desafiados con Eimeria sp. Métodos: Se utilizaron 700 pollos machos (Cobb500) de 1 día de edad, distribuidos en un diseño completamente al azar con cuatro tratamientos: (1) dieta control negativo sin agentes anticoccidianos ni promotores de crecimiento; (2) dieta control+0,05% de salinomicina; (3) dieta control negativa+100g/ton; y (4) dieta control negativa +140g/ton del producto a evaluar (oleorresina de Curcuma longa L. y Capsicum annuum). Resultados: Se obtuvieron resultados similares repecto a peso corporal, ganancia de peso, conversión alimenticia e Índice de Eficiencia Productiva en los tratamientos que contenían anticoccidiano quimioterapéutico y los que contenian oleorresinas. Además, no se observaron diferencias en el consumo de alimento ni en la tasa de supervivencia entre los tratamientos dietarios. Conclusión: Los pollos de engorde suplementados entre 1 y 21 d con oleorresinas de pimiento y cúrcuma presentan similar peso corporal, ganancia de peso, conversión alimenticia e Índice de Eficiencia Productiva en comparación con los suplementados con anticoccidianos quimioterapéuticos, sin afectar el consumo de alimento ni la viabilidad.

Resumo Antecedentes: O impacto econômico da coccidiose é o maior quando comparado a outras doenças na produção avícola. Além disso, promotores de crescimento quimioterápicos tem sido substituídos por estratégias alternativas. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito das oleoresinas da pimenta Chilli (Capsicum annuum) e açafrão-da-terra (Curcuma longa L.) no desempenho zootécnico, taxa de sobrevivência e Índice de Eficiência Produtiva de frangos de corte de 1 a 21d desafiados por Eimeria sp Métodos: Foram utilizados 700 pintos de 1d, machos (Cobb500) distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em quatro tratamentos: (1) dieta controle negativo, sem agente anticoccidiano ou promotores de crescimento; (2) dieta controle+0,05% de salinomicina; (3) dieta controle negativa+100g/ton; e (4)+140g/ton de produto teste (oleoresina de Curcuma longa L. mais Capsicum annuum) e desafiados por Eimeria sp. Resultados: Houve resultados similares para peso, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar e Índice de Eficiência Produtiva entre frangos alimentados com dietas contendo anticocidiano quimioterápico e dietas contendo oleoresinas. Além disso, não houve diferença para consumo de ração e a taxa de sobrevivência entre os tratamentos dietéticos. Conclusão: Frangos de corte alimentados com dietas suplementadas com oleorresinas de pimenta chili e açafrão-da-terra apresentaram resultados similares para peso, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar e Índice de Eficiência Produtiva que frangos de corte alimentados com dietas suplementadas com anticoccidianos quimioterápicos de 1 a 21d, sem afetar o consumo de ração e a taxa de sobrevivência dos animais.