DESEMPENHO PRODUTIVO E CARACTERÍSTICAS DE CARCAÇA DE NOVILHOS SUPLEMENTADOS COM MONENSINA E PROBIÓTICOS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of probiotic and monensin sodium on the productive performance of beef cattle and their characteristics of body composition. It was used 94 ringed cattle with initial live weight of 208.53 ± 23.56 kg distributed in a completely randomized design with 2 groups, monensin and probiotic. The animals were weighed every 30 days and submitted to ultrasound evaluation of carcass at the end of the experiment to verify the development of the loin eye area (AOL), subcutaneous adipose tissue (EGS). The means by treatment were submitted to analysis of variance with significance level of 5%. The average daily weight gain was higher in the group that received probiotic, supplement intake did not differ between groups. Animals receiving probiotics had AOL and AOL / 100 kg body weight and EGS higher than monensin treatment. The use of probiotic provided improvement in the productive performance and the carcass characteristics.