UTILIZAÇÃO DE SIMBIÓTICO COMERCIAL E SUA INFLUÊNCIA NO COMPORTAMENTO INGESTIVO DE BOVINOS CONFINADOS

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of a commercial symbiotic additive on the ingestive behavior of beef cattle in a feedlot system. The study was conducted in the feedlot of a property, located in the city of São Lourenço do Sul, RS, from November 30 to December 1, 2018. The variables analyzed for ingestive behavior were: feeding, foot rumination, lying rumination, standing idle, lying idle and water consumption. Twenty Aberdeen Angus animals were used, divided into two lots: 1 and 2 with 10 animals in each bay respectively. The animals in lot 1 received in addition to the normal diet 10 g / animal / day of a symbiotic product composed of microencapsulated probiotics and prebiotic, which was mixed directly into the feeder, while the animals in lot 2 were used as controls. There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) for the behavioral variables observed. The use of the symbiotic additive did not change the evaluation of the intake of the Abeerden Angus females.