DESEMPENHO E CARACTERÍSTISCAS DA CARCAÇA DE CORDEIROS ALIMENTADOS COM DIETAS ACRESCIDAS DE IONÓFOROS

Abstract: the objective was to evaluate the effect of monensin and lasalocid ionophores, added in the diet of Santa Inês lambs, in feedlot and slaughtered at 45 kg live weight on performance and carcass characteristics. Were used 18 lambs in a completely randomized design, the animals were distributed into three treatments with six replicates per treatment. Namely: 1) Control diet, 2) Diet plus monensin and 3) Diet plus lasalocid. Data were analyzed by GLM procedure of Statistical Analysis System (SAS) and means compared by t test. The use of ionophores monensina and lasalocid increased the avarege daily weight gain of lambs, but didn’t affect consumption. The use of ionophores in the diet of feedlot lambs may become favorable for being able to shorten the time of confinement.