Growth performance and safety of meat from cattle feedlot finished with salinomycin in the diet

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the performance, carcass characteristics, serum parameters, the residual depletion in the beef and the economic viability of termination steers with salinomycin in the diet. Were confined 32 animals fed with diet consisting of corn silage and concentrate (50:50) or not added salinomycin (120 mg animal d^-1). The design was completely randomized with 8 repetions. The use of salinomycin improved weight gain (1.582 vs 1.304 kg) and feed conversion (6.16 vs 7.25 kg kg^-1). There were no significant changes in feed intake (9.52 vs 9.25 kg animals d^-1) in serum parameters, nor in the apparent digestibility of the diet. The 16-hour grace period before slaughter expressed salinomycin concentrations below 0.25 µg kg^-1 in the organs and edible tissues below the values allowed by law. Animals finished with salinomycin showed better hot carcass weight (287.76 vs 275.81 kg) and better economic results, an increase of R$ 84.20 per animal in the profit margin. The use of salinomycin for feedlot steers promoted improvements in the production and economic performance without harming the health of animals and consumers, because they were not detected significant residues in edible tissues