Influence of Phytogenic Feed Additive on Performance of Feedlot Cattle

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of a blended phytogenic feed additive on feed intake, feeding behavior, nutrient digestibility, and growth performance during feedlot adaptation, early, and late finishing periods as well as carcass traits. Twenty-six crossbred F1 Angus × Nellore bulls (19 mo ± 4 d) were housed in individually pens and fed a high-forage receiving diet for 7 days. At the end of the receiving period, bulls were weighted [initial shrunk body weight (SBW) 363 ± 20 kg], blocked by SBW and randomly assigned to two treatments; Control: without any additive or PHY: 150 ppm of a phytogenic feed additive fed throughout the adaptation and finishing phases. Bulls were transitioned through four steps over 18 days to a high-grain finishing diet (as % DM, 64% rehydrated corn grain silage, 19% corn gluten feed, 13% sugar cane bagasse and 4% minerals, urea, and vitamins mix). The finishing phase lasted 68 days, with mid-point measurements dividing early and late finishing period. The PHY group DMI was greater during adaptation and late finishing periods (P < 0.05), with a tendency during early finishing period (P = 0.06). Number of daily meals was similar between treatments (P = 0.52), but an increased meal length was noted for PHY group (P < 0.05), which contributed to their greater DMI. Diet digestibility remained similar between groups during the finishing periods (P > 0.1). Ruminitis scores were low and liver abscess similar between treatments. Final SBW tended to be higher (P = 0.09) and hot carcass weight was greater for the PHY group (P < 0.05), with no differences on dressing percentage, ribeye area and marbling score. In conclusion, the PHY treatment had positive effects on intake and carcass weight, without increasing metabolic disorders.

Nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and blood metabolites of growing cattle-fed fermented cassava pulp with added flavoring agents

“…This finding could be comparable to Borneman et al [ 49 ] demonstrated that the phenolic compound (vanillin) did not affect the in vitro DM digestibility of cellulose. Piran Filho et al [ 23 ] also reported that feeding aromatic compounds such as licorice, caraway, cinnamon, and vanilla to Angus Nellore cross bulls did not affect the apparent total tract digestibility parameters. Furthermore, Karimov et al [ 50 ] demonstrate that vanillin combined with probiotic strains ( Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium adolescentis / Lactobacillus acidophilus ) increases wheat digestibility, possibly due to changes in the rumen microbiome.…”

“…It is well known that adding flavoring agents can improve feed acceptance [ 23 – 26 ]. However, there have been limited investigations that have examined the influence of flavoring compounds added to FCPU offered to grow beef on digestion, ruminal fermentation characteristics, and blood metabolites.…”

Unexpected finding ofFusobacterium variumabundance in cattle rumen: implications for liver abscess interventions

“…However, there is substantial public and regulatory pressure to reduce overall antibiotic use to curtail proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria. As such, other methods are being explored to prevent LA formation in cattle, including vaccination [9], dietary supplementation with phytogenic additives (e.g., essential oils) [10, 11] or Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation products [12]. However, such approaches have only proven effective in vitro or under strictly controlled conditions and have not been widely adopted within the cattle industry [13, 14].…”