Keywords
Essential oils
Ionophores
Non-starch polysaccharides
Total diet.
How to Cite
Abstract
The study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of a carbohydrase enzyme complex and an essential oil blend, used as replacements for sodium monensin and virginiamycin, on the growth performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot-finished steers fed two high-energy diets. Thirty-two half-blood Angus steers were used. The experiment followed a randomized block design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, consisting of two diet types and two additive combinations. The four treatments, with four replicates each, were as follows: T1, pelleted total diet supplemented with sodium monensin and virginiamycin; T2, pelleted total diet supplemented with an enzyme complex and essential oil blend; T3, diet consisting of 85% whole shelled corn and 15% protein-vitamin-mineral supplement, supplemented with sodium monensin and virginiamycin; and T4, diet consisting of 85% whole shelled corn and 15% protein-vitamin-mineral supplement, supplemented with an enzyme complex and essential oil blend. 484 Steers fed the whole shelled corn diet had 11.30% greater weight gain than those fed the pelleted total diet. They also had greater carcass gain (140.3 vs. 120.7 kg), hot carcass weight (306.70 vs. 286.05 kg), and ribeye area (82.53 vs. 79.56 cm²). Supplementation with sodium monensin and virginiamycin resulted in greater average daily gain and better feed conversion over the periods from 0 to 112 days and from 0 to 140 days. This combination was also more effective than the essential oil blend combined with the enzyme complex in terms of carcass gain (135.15 vs. 126.05 kg) and hot carcass weight (302.05 vs. 290.70 kg). In contrast, supplementation with the essential oil blend and enzyme complex resulted in higher marbling scores and greater subcutaneous and picanha (rump cap) fat thickness than supplementation with sodium monensin and virginiamycin (3.00 vs. 2.72, 7.57 vs. 6.95 mm, and 9.98 vs. 9.17 mm, respectively). A diet consisting of 85% whole shelled corn and 15% protein-vitamin-mineral supplement improved growth performance and carcass characteristics compared with a fully pelleted diet. The combined use of essential oils and fibrolytic enzymes in high-energy diets improved carcass finish compared with the combined use of sodium monensin and virginiamycin.
References
Abreu, J. A. D. C., Neumann, M., Paris, W., Souza, A. M., Vigne, G. L. D., Almeida, E. R., Cristo, F. B., & Sidor, F. S. (2022). Combination of carbohydrases and essential oils improve dietary performance of feedlot steers on a high-energy diet. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 43(2), 523-540. doi: 10.5433/1679-0359.2022v43n2p523
Association of Official Analytical Chemists (2000). Official methods of analysis of the Association of the Analytical Chemists (17nd ed.). AOAC.
Bach Knudsen, K. E., Johansen, H. N., & Glitso, V. (1997). Methods for analysis of dietary fibre - advantage and limitations. Journal Animal Feed Science, 6(1), 185-206.
Barreta, D. A. (2020). Average particle size of the diet determination, interpretation and effects for dairy cows. Revista Acadêmica Ciência Animal, 18(1), 1-9. doi: 10.7213/2596-2868.2020.18102
Bento, F. C., Rovani, E. A., Mesquita, G. F., Ruiz, L. R. B., Silva, M. I. L., Moreira, P. S. A., Polizel Neto, A., & Gomes, H. F. B. (2019). Efeito dos níveis de suplementação no desempenho de bovinos em sistema de semiconfinamento. Nativa, 7(6), 813–819, 2019. doi: 10.31413/nativa.v7i6.7090
Bonfante, E., Palmonari, A., Mammi, L., Canestrari, G., Fustini, M., & Formigoni, A. (2016). Effects of a completely pelleted diet on growth performance in Holstein heifers. Journal Animal Science, 99(12), 9724-9731. doi: 10.3168/jds.2016-11033
Carvalho, S., Bernardes, M. C., Pires, C. C., Bianchi, G., Pilleco, V. M., Venturini, R. S., Motta, J., & Teixeira, C. T. (2015). Efeito de dietas de alto grão sobre o comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros em confinamento. Zootecnia Tropical, 33(2), 145-152.
Chen, F., Wei, J. T., Yang, X. H., Zhao, N., Zhang, W., Huang, S. W., Yan, N. D., & Guo, W. Z. (2018). Effect of pelleted total mixed rations with different levels of intact rapeseed on performance, carcass traits, serum biochemical indices and meat quality of Boer goats. Animal Production Science, 59(1), 82-88. doi: 10.1071/AN17172
Estrada-Angulo, A., Mendoza-Cortez, D. A., Ramos-Méndez, J. L., Arteaga-Wences, Y. J., Urías-Estrada, J. D., Castro-Pérez, B. I., Ríos-Rincón, F. G., Rodríguez-Gaxiola, M. A., Barreras, A., Zinn, R. A., & Plascencia, A. (2022). Comparing blend of essential oils plus 25-Hydroxy-Vit-D3 versus monensin plus virginiamycin combination in finishing feedlot cattle: growth performance, dietary energetics, and carcass traits. Animals, 12(13), 1715. doi: 10.3390/ani12131715
Fernandes, A. R. M., Sampaio, A. A. M., Henrique, W., Oliveira, E. A., Tullio, R. R., & Perecin, D. (2008). Carcass and meat characteristic of cattle receiving differents diets in feedlot. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, 60(1), 139-147. doi: 10.1590/S0102-09352008000100020
Ferreira, S., Guimarães, T., Moeira, K., Alves, V., Lemos, B., & Souza, F. (2013). Caracterização fecal de bovinos. Revista Científica Eletrônica de Medicina Veterinária, 20(11), 1-22.
Goering, H. K., & Van Soest, P. J. (1970). Forage fiber analysis: apparatus, reagents, procedures and some applications. Agricultural Handbook.
Gonçalves, M. F., Silva Martins, J. M., Oliveira, M. V., Carvalho, C. C. M., Antunes, M. M., Ferreira, I. C., & Olivalves, L. C. (2012). Ionóforos na alimentação de bovinos. Veterinária Notícias, 18(2), 131-146.
Goularte, S. R., Ítavo, L. C. V., Santos, G. T., Ítavo, C. C. B. F., Oliveira, L. C. S., Favaro, S. P., & Bittar, C. M. M. (2011). Ácidos graxos voláteis no rúmen de vacas alimentadas com diferentes teores de concentrado na dieta. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, 63(6), 1479-1486. doi: 10.1590/S010209352011000600027
Heker, J. C. H., Jr., Neumann, M., Ueno, R. K., Falbo, M. K., Galbeiro, S., Souza, A. M., & Askel, E. J. (2018). Effect of monensin sodium associative to virginiamycin and/or essential oils on the performance of feedlot finished steers. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, 39(1), 261-274. doi: 10.5433/1679-0359.2018v39n1p261
Herring, W. O., Miller, D. C., Bertrand, J. K., & Benyshek, L. L. (1994). Evaluation of machine, technician and interpreter effects on ultrasonic measures of backfat and longissimus muscle area in beef cattle. Journal Animal Science, 72(9), 2216-2226. doi: 10.2527/1994.7292216x
Hoffman, P. C., Mertens, D. R., Larson, J., Coblentz, W. K., & Shaver, R. D. (2012). A query for effective mean particle size of dry and high moisture corns. Journal of Dairy Science, 95(6), 3467-3477. doi: Jafari 10.3168/jds.2011-5126
Jafari, S., Ebrahimi, M., Goh, Y. M., Rajion, M. A., Jahromi, M. F., & Al-Jumaili, W. S. (2019). Manipulation of rumen fermentation and methane gas production by plant secondary metabolites (saponin, tannin and essential oil): a review of ten-year studies. Annals of Animal Science, 19(1), 3-29. doi: 10.2478/aoas-2018-0037
Kholif, A. E., Kassab, A. Y., Azzaz, H. H., Matloup, O. H., Hamdon, A., Olafadehan, O. A., & Morsy, T. A. (2018). Essential oils blend with a newly developed enzyme cocktail works synergistically to enhance feed utilization and milk production of Farafra ewes in the subtropics. Small Ruminant Research, 161, 43-50. doi: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2018.02.011
Kozloski, G. V. (2009). Bioquímica dos ruminantes. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria.
Maciel, I. C. F., Saturnino, H. M., Barbosa, F. A., Maia, G. H. B., Fº., Costa, P. M., & Malacco, V. M. R. (2015). Virginiamicina na alimentação de ruminantes. Caderno de Ciências Agrárias, 7(1), 271-285.
Millen, D. D., Pacheco, R. D. L., Arrigoni, M. D. B., Galyean, M. L., & Vasconcelos, J. T. (2009). A snapshot of management practices and nutritional recommendations used by feedlot nutritionists in Brazil. Journal of Animal Science, 87(10), 3427-3439. doi: 10.2527/jas.2009-1880
Miller, G. L. (1959). Use of Dinitrosalicylic Acid Reagent for Determination of Reducing Sugar. Analytical chemistry, 31(3), 426-428. doi: 10.1021/ac60147a030
Monteschio, J. O., Souza, K. A., Vital, A. C. P., Guerrero, A., Valero, M. V., Kempinski, E. M., Barcelos, V. C., Nascimento, K. F., & Prado, I. N. (2017). Clove and rosemary essential oils and encapsuled active principles (eugenol, thymol and vanillin blend) on meat quality of feedlot-finished heifers. Meat Science, 130(1), 50-57. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.04.002
Moron, I. R., Teixeira, J. C., Oliveira, A. I. G., Perez, J. R. O., & Oliveira, J. S. (2000). Kinetics of ruminal digestion of starch from corn and sorghum grains submitted to different forms of processing. Ciência e Agrotécnologia, 24(1), 208-212.
Müller, L. (1987). Normas para avaliação de carcaças e concurso de carcaças de novilhos. UFSM.
Navarrete, J. D., Montano, M. F., Raymundo, C., Salinas-Chavira, J., Torrentera, N., & Zinn, R. A. (2017). Effect of energy density and virginiamycin supplementation in diets on growth performance and digestive function of finishing steers. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 30(10), 1396-1404. doi: 10.5713/ajas.16.0826
Neumann, M., Leão, G. F. M., Vigne, G. L. D., Santos, L. C., Venancio, B. J., & Dochwat, A. (2018). Xylanase complex efficacy in hight-energy diet for bulls finished in feedlot. Acta Scientiarum. Animal Sciences, 40, 1-7. doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v40i1.37321
Nogueira, S. C. P., Bertpáglia, L., Leandro, G. S., Reis, R. A., Jorge, J. A., & Polizeli, M. L. T. (2013). Estabilidade xilanásica no rúmen e digestibilidade in vitro de volumosos tratados com extrato enzimático de Aspergillus niveus. Revista Brasileira de Higiene e Sanidade Animal, 7(1), 46-60. doi: 10.5935/1981-2965.20130004
Robinson, K., Becker, S., Xiao, Y., Lyu, W., Yang, Q., Zhu, H., Yang, H., Zhao, J., & Zhang, G. (2019). Differential impact of subtherapeutic antibiotics and ionophores on intestinal microbiota of broilers. Microorganisms, 7(9), 282-295. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms7090282
Rossi, C. A., Soares, M., Luchese, F. C., & Santurio, J. M. (2015). Uso de óleos essenciais no controle dos sinais clínicos das diarreias neonatais em leitões nascidos de fêmeas com diferentes ordens de parto. Ciência Animal Brasileira, 16(1), 93-102. doi: 10.1590/1089-6891v16i119669
Santos, G. C. L., Gonzaga, S., Neto, Bezerra, L. R., & Medeiros, A. N. (2020). Use of cakes to feed dairy cows: a review. Brazilian Journal of Animal and Environmental Research, 3(1), 89-113.
Schären, M. C., Drong, K., Kiri, S., Riede, M., Gardener, U., Meyer, J., Hummel, T., Urich, G., Breves, S., & Dänicke, S. (2017). Differential effects of monensin and a blend of essential oils on rumen microbiota composition of transition dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 100(4), 2765-2783. doi: 10.3168/jds.2016-11994
Silveira, L. G. G., Piona, M. N. M., Mousquer, C. J., Gomes, R. S., & Silveira, A. C. (2021). Sistemas de cria em áreas tropicais: desmama precoce. Revisão de literatura. Revista Brasileira de Higiene e Sanidade Animal, 15(1), 1-14.
Soares, M. S., Silva, L. G., Frazão, O. S., & Silva, A. L. N. (2015). Aditivos alimentares na nutrição de ruminantes. Revista Eletrônica Nutritime, 12(4), 4162- 4174.
Tedeschi, L. O., & Buenfil, M. A. G. (2018). An assessment of the effectiveness of virginiamycin on liver abscess incidence and growth performance in feedlot cattle: a comprehensive statistical analysis. Journal of Animal Science, 96(6), 2474-2489. doi: 10.1093/jas/sky121
Van Soest, P. J., Robertson, J. B., & Lewis, B. A. (1991). Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and nonstarch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74(10), 3583-3597. doi: 10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(91)78551-2
Vargas, J. G. D., Mendoza, M., Lozano, M. S. R., & Castrejon, F. A. (2013). Effect of exogenous fibrolytic enzymes on the carcass characteristics and performance of grain-finished steers. Animal Nutritional Feed and Technology, 13(3), 435-439.
Vigne, G. L. D., Neumann, M., Santos, L. C., Stadler, E. S., Pontarolo, G. B., Petkowicz, K., & Cristo, F. B. (2019). Digestibility of starch and ingestive behavior of feedlot steers by effect of enzymatic complex doses in high-energy diets. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, 71(3), 1015-1026. doi: 10.1590/1678-4162-10538
Weiss, W. P., Conrad, H. R., & Pierre, N. R. S. (1992). A theoretically-based model for predicting total digestible nutrient values of forages and concentrates. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 39(1), 95-110. doi: 10.1016/0377-8401(92)90034-4
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mikael Neumann, Fernando de Souza Sidor, Fernando Braga Cristo, Daniel Corrêa Plodoviski, Luísa da Costa Venancio, Maria Eduarda de Oliveira Poleto, Paulo Victor Cesar Pinheiro, Paulo Eduardo Piemontez de Oliveira, Andre Martins de Souza