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Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance responses of finishing feedlot cattle to dietary addition of essential oils and exogenous enzymes. The treatments in each experiment consisted of (DM basis): MONsodium monensin (26 mg/kg); BEO-a blend of essential oils (90 mg/kg); BEO+MON-a blend of essential oils plus monensin (90 mg/kg + 26 mg/ kg, respectively); BEO+AM-a blend of essential oils plus exogenous α-amylase (90 mg/kg + 560 mg/kg, respectively); and BEO+AM+PRO-a blend of essential oils plus exogenous α-amylase and exogenous protease (90 mg/kg + 560 mg/kg + 840 mg/kg, respectively). Exp. 1 consisted of a 93-d finishing period using 300 Nellore bulls in a randomized complete block design. Animals fed BEO had higher DMI (P < 0.001) but similar feed efficiency to animals fed MON (P ≥ 0.98). Compared with MON, the combination of BEO+AM resulted in 810 g greater DMI (P = 0.001), 190 g greater average daily gain (P = 0.04), 18 kg heavier final body weight (P = 0.04), and 12 kg heavier hot carcass weight (P = 0.02), although feed efficiency was not significantly different between BEO+AM and MON (P = 0.89). Combining BEO+MON tended to decrease hot carcass weight compared with BEO alone (P = 0.08) but not compared with MON (P = 0.98). Treatments did not impact observed dietary net energy values (P ≥ 0.74) or the observed:expected net energy ratio (P ≥ 0.11). In Exp. 2, five ruminally cannulated Nellore steers were used to evaluate intake, apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients, and ruminal parameters in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Feeding BEO increased the total tract digestibility of CP compared to MON (P = 0.03). Compared to MON, feeding the combination of BEO+MON increased the intake of CP (P = 0.04) and NDF (P = 0.05), with no effects on total tract digestibility of nutrients (P ≥ 0.56), except for a tendency (P = 0.09) to increase CP digestibility. Intakes of all nutrients measured, except for ether extract (P = 0.16) were greater in animals fed BEO+AM when compared with MON (P ≤ 0.03), with no differences on total tract nutrient digestibilities (P ≥ 0.11) between these two treatments. In summary, diets containing the BEO used herein enhanced DMI of growing-finishing feedlot cattle compared with a basal diet containing MON without impair feed efficiency. A synergism between BEO and AM was detected, further increasing cattle performance and carcass production compared to MON.

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The current study evaluated growth performance and digestion responses of finishing bulls fed diets containing 825 g/kg flint maize [dry matter (DM) basis] ground to medium (1.66 mm; MG) or coarse particle sizes (2.12 mm; CG), with added monensin (26 mg/kg; DM basis; MON) or a blend of essential oils (BEO) + exogenous α-amylase (AM; 90 mg/kg + 560 mg/kg commercial product, respectively, DM basis). In Expt 1, 256 Nellore bulls were blocked by initial body weight (BW) (360 ± 11.7 kg) and assigned to 48 pens in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Effect of a maize particle size × feed additive interaction was not detected for final BW, DM intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency. The DMI was greater for bulls fed BEO + AM v. MON. Final BW and ADG tended to be greater for bulls fed CG than MG maize. An interaction was detected for hot carcass weight which was 11 kg heavier for bulls fed BEO + AM v. MON in diets containing CG, but not MG particle size. In Expt 2, four ruminally cannulated Nellore steers were offered the same treatments as Expt 1, in a 4 × 4 Latin Square design. Intake of most nutrients was greater for steers fed CG than steers fed MG maize. In summary, feeding bulls CG maize increased growth performance and carcass characteristics compared with MG. The combination of BEO + AM resulted in heavier carcass weights compared with MON supplementation when included in diets containing CG maize.

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Feed efficiency, expressed as residual feed intake (RFI) (Koch, Swiger, Chambers, & Gregory, 1963), is an alternative trait that can be used for the genetic improvement of cattle aimed at efficient and sustainable production. Selecting animals that are most efficient in feed utilization without compromising performance may result in increases of beef production but without impacting characteristics of the production system such as the area destined for production, the use of natural resources, and production of residues (Johnson et al., 2019; Waghorn & Hegarty, 2011). Although many studies have investigated RFI in beef cattle

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and the fermentative parameters of heart of palm waste produced from Alexander Palm, ensiled with chemical additives. Treatments consisted of silage of the sheath with or without calcium oxide. In the silage without calcium oxide, we evaluated the control silage (without additive) and the silage enriched with 5.0 g kg −1 urea (urea). In the silage with calcium oxide, we evaluated the silage enriched with 5.0 g kg −1 calcium oxide (control) and the silage enriched with 5.0 g kg −1 urea and 5.0 g kg −1 calcium oxide (urea). Experimental silos were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (inclusion or lack of lime × inclusion or lack of urea), with four replicates. Crude protein concentration was greater in the silages that received urea, whereas in the case of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber, the lowest levels were found in the control silage. Control silage had the lowest pH (3.75) and the silages that received lime displayed the lowest lactic acid content. Effluent losses were greater in the control silage and in the silage with lime (56.1 kg t −1 and 58.4 kg t −1 , respectively). Silages prepared with waste from heart of palm production and enriched only with urea showed a better chemical composition and improved fermentation parameter estimates. We recommend the use of this waste only with additives that can improve the chemical characteristics of the forage. Without additives, unwanted fermentation processes may occur and compromise the quality of the silage.

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