Effect of beef cattle diet supplementation with phytogenic additive on the intake and digestibility of tropical pasture in the rainy period

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of adding or not a blend of phytogenic additives in supplements on nutrient intake and digestibility in beef cattle kept on marandu grass pasture (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) in the growing phase, in the rainy season. The experiment was divided into 2 phases, in phase 1 the field experiment was carried out, with data collection and sample processing, and in phase 2 the laboratory analyses, data analysis, and statistical analysis will be carried out. The field experiment was conducted in the Beef Cattle sector of the Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias at UNESP, a campus of Jaboticabal - SP, from January 2020 to March 2021. The animals were allocated in 09 paddocks of marandu grass. The experimental treatments evaluated were: 1 - Mineral supplement supplied ad libitum; 2 - Additive mineral supplement (0.1% of BW) with the inclusion of a phytogenic additive blend; 3 - Protein-energy supplement (0.3% of BW) with the inclusion of a phytogenic additive blend. Nine steers of the Nellore breed were used, castrated, cannulated in the rumen, distributed in 03 simultaneous 3x3 Latin squares. The study hypothesis is that the inclusion of a blend of phytogenic additives in the supplement will increase the apparent digestibility of crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), without reducing DM intake and nutrient digestibility in diets.(AU)