The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inclusion of narasin, salinomycin, or flavomycin for 140 d on ruminal fermentation parameters, apparent nutrient digestibility, and performance of Nellore cattle offered a forage-based diet. In experiment 1, 32 rumen-cannulated Bos indicus Nellore steers [initial body weight (BW) = 220 ± 12.6 kg] were assigned to individual pens in a randomized complete block design according to their initial shrunk BW. Within block, animals were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: (1) forage-based diet without feed additives (CON; n = 8), (2) CON diet plus 13 ppm of narasin (NAR; n = 8), (3) CON diet plus 20 ppm of salinomycin (SAL; n = 8), or (4) CON diet plus 3 ppm of flavomycin (FLA; n = 8). The experimental period lasted 140 d and was divided into 5 periods of 28 d each. The inclusion of feed additives did not impact (P ≥ 0.17) dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient intake, and apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients. Nonetheless, steers fed NAR had lower (P < 0.01) molar proportion of acetate compared with CON, SAL, and FLA steers, whereas ruminal acetate tended to be greater (P < 0.09) for SAL vs. CON and FLA, but did not differ (P = 0.68) between CON vs. FLA steers. Ruminal propionate was the highest (P < 0.01) for steers fed NAR and did not differ (P > 0.20) between CON, SAL, and FLA. Consequently, NAR steers had the lowest (P < 0.01) Ac:Pr ratio, whereas Ac:Pr did not differ (P > 0.18) among CON, SAL, and FLA. Total volatile fatty acids were greater (P < 0.04) for NAR and CON vs. SAL and FLA, but did not differ (P > 0.67) among NAR vs. CON and SAL vs. FLA. In experiment 2, 164 Nellore bulls (initial shrunk BW = 299 ± 2.5 kg) were assigned to feedlot pens for 140 d in a randomized complete block design. Within block (n = 10), animals were randomly assigned to the same treatments used in experiment 1. Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.01) in NAR vs. CON, SAL, and FLA bulls, and did not differ (P > 0.12) between CON, SAL, and FLA bulls. Bulls fed NAR had greater (P < 0.02) DMI (as kg/d or % BW) and final shrunk BW compared with CON, SAL, and FLA bulls, whereas DMI and final shrunk BW did not differ (P > 0.26) between CON, SAL, and FLA bulls. Feed efficiency, however, was not impacted (P = 0.51) by any feed additives used herein. Collectively, narasin was the only feed additive that benefited performance and ruminal fermentation of Nellore animals fed a forage-based diet.

The study aimed to evaluate if the frequency of narasin supplementation impacts dry matter intake, ruminal fermentation parameters, and apparent digestibility of nutrient in Nellore (Bos Indicus) steers fed forage-based diets. Thirty-two rumen-cannulated Nellore steers [initial body weight (BW) = 317 ± 27 kg; age =18 ± 1 mo] were assigned to individual pens in a randomized complete block design according to their initial shrunk BW. Within block, steers were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments: 1) forage-based diet without the addition of narasin (CON; n = 8), 2) CON diet plus 13 ppm of narasin every 24 hours (N24; n = 8), 3) CON diet plus 26 ppm of narasin every 48 hours (N48; n = 8), or 4) CON diet plus 39 ppm of narasin every 72 hours (N72; n = 8). The experimental period lasted 30 d, with 18 d for diet adaptation and 12 d for sample collection. The experimental diets contained 95% of Tifton-85 (Cynodon dactylon spp.) haylage and 5% ground corn used as a delivery vehicle for narasin. Ruminal fluid was obtained from d 25 to 30 at 6 h after feeding to determine ruminal fermentation parameters. Narasin supplementation frequency did not affect (P ≥ 0.22) nutrient intake and total tract apparent digestibility. Steers fed N24 and N48 had reduced (P = 0.02) ruminal acetate concentration compared with CON and N72. Daily supply of narasin increased (P = 0.01) the molar proportion of propionate compared with CON and N72, and it did not differ between N24 vs. N48, N48 vs. N72, and N72 vs. CON. Also, N48 steers had greater (P = 0.01) rumen propionate concentration compared with CON. The N24 treatment decreased the Ac: Prop (P = 0.01) and AcBut: Prop (P = 0.02) ratio compared with CON and N72, while N48 had reduced (P = 0.01) Ac: Prop and AcBut: Prop ratio when compared with CON steers. Steers fed N24 and N48 had greater (P = 0.04) ruminal SCFA compared with CON, but it did not differ (P > 0.11) between N24, N48, and N72. Supplementing narasin to steers fed forage-based diets decreased (P < 0.01) ruminal ammonia concentration compared with CON steers regardless of supplementation frequency, being the least result observed for N24 steers. Collectively, narasin supplementation frequency affected fermentation parameters without altering the nutrient intake and total tract apparent digestibility. Hence, decreasing frequency of narasin supplementation to Nellore steers fed a forage-based diet did not reduce the capacity to modulate rumen fermentation parameters.

The objective of this trial was to determine the effect of narasin inclusion into a protein supplement on the performance of grazing yearling bulls. One hundred and fifty Nellore yearling bulls were blocked by initial BW (332 ± 3.4 kg) and assigned to 30 paddocks (15 paddocks/treatment). Sixty paddocks of Brachiaria brizantha with 1 ha each were used, whereas each paddock was continuously grazed by 28 d, followed by a resting period of 28 d. Paddocks were rotated among treatments every 28 d to minimize possible paddock variation. The experimental period lasted 112 d, divided into 4 periods of 28 d each. The treatments were: 1) negative control (no narasin: 0N), and 2) 13 ppm of narasin/d (13N; Zimprova®; Elanco, São Paulo, Brazil). Narasin was added to the protein supplement by adjusting its concentration in each 28-d period, according to the supplement intake (SI) during the previous period. The SI was evaluated on a weekly basis. Forage mass in the paddocks was measured by choosing two points upon entry and exit of the lot from each pasture. All data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS. The ADG and SI were analyzed as repeated measures over time. There was no treatment × period interaction for ADG (P = 0.06) and SI (P = 0.66). Narasin inclusion into the protein supplement did not affect SI (0N = 435.5, 13N = 431.3 g/d; SEM = 12.2; P = 0.74), increased the ADG (0N = 0.240, 13N = 0.284 kg; SEM = 0.017; P < 0.01) and the final BW of the yearling bulls (0N = 357.7, 13N = 363.0 kg; SEM = 3.43; P < 0.01). In conclusion, narasin inclusion into protein supplement improved the performance of grazing yearling bulls.

The aim of this study was to evaluate three feed additives for rumen manipulation. Thirty-two rumen-fistulated animals were assigned to a completed randomized block design, according to their initial BW. Steers were fed with 99% of coastcross haylage and 1% of concentrate, used as vehicle for the additives. The forage and concentrate were offered separately, whereas the forage was offered after the entire consumption of the concentrate. The experimental diets consisted in: CON = Control (no feed additive); NAR = 13ppm of Narasin; SAL = 20ppm of Salinomycin; and FLA = 3ppm of Flavomycin. The experimental period lasted 140 d, divided on 5 periods of 28 d each. Rumen fluid was collected on d 0, 28, 56, 84, 112 and 140, at 0, 6 and 12 hours after feeding and combined as a pool for SCFA analysis. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Data obtained on d 0 were used as covariate. Tukey test 5% was used for comparisons. There was treatment effect on acetate (CON: 73.5ab; NAR: 73.0a; SAL: 73.9b and FLA: 73.6b mM/100mM, P = 0.01; SEM = 0.16), propionate (CON: 13.7b; NAR: 14.6a; SAL: 13.5b and FLA: 13.4b, P = 0.01; SEM = 0.11), butyrate (CON: 9.06a; NAR: 8.64b; SAL: 8.72ab and FLA: 8.96ab, P = 0.02; SEM = 0.10), isovalerate (CON: 1.51b; NAR: 1.61ab; SAL: 1.55ab and FLA: 1.67b, P = 0.03; SEM = 0.04) and ac:prop ratio (CON: 5.39a; NAR: 4.99b; SAL: 5.49a and FLA: 5.4a, P = 0.01; SEM = 0.05). Therefore, narasin improves energetic efficiency of ruminal fermentation compared to other additives.