POTENCIAIS ADITIVOS NA ALIMENTAÇÃO DE BOVINOS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different additives: monensin, cashew nut shell, powdered chitosan and ricinoleic acid on the in vitro digestibility of nutrients in diets containing different ratios: concentrate for ruminants. As donors of the ruminal fluid, two Jersey cattle were used, with a ruminal cannula and kept under pasture. Three competing ratios were used for the assay: concentrate (100:00, 50:50 and 20:80) and four types of additives on the in vitro digestibility of organic matter, dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and crude protein. The inclusion of monensin, cashew liquid, chitosan and ricinoleic acid increased the dry matter digestibility coefficient. In vitro digestibilities were found for the following ratios: concentrate on dry matter, crude protein and organic matter. The monensin, Cashew liquid, chitosan and ricinoléico acid additives have the potential to act as modulators of ruminal fermentation, resulting in positive effects on the in vitro digestibility of nutrients, making it possible to substitute ionophore antibiotics.