Quitosana e líquido da casca da castanha de caju em dietas à base de grãos para bovinos

Abstract

The aimed of this work was to evaluate the addition of technical Cashew Nut Liquid (CNLt) and Chitosan as natural additives for confined cattle fed whole grain corn diet. Five (5) rumen-cannulated crossbred steers with an average weight of 350 kg were used, randomly distributed in a 5x5 Latin square design and kept in individual pens, receiving a diet consisting of 85% whole grain corn and 15% protein mineral-vitamin pellet. The experimental diets were added with monensin (25 mg/kg of DM); chitosan (375 mg/kg MS); CNLt (500mg/kg MS); chitosan + CNLt (375mg + 500mg/kg of MS); in addition to the control diet. The animals fed with the association of CNLt+CHI had lower consumption of DM (6.60 Kg/day) and CP (0.872 Kg/day) and higher coefficient of digestibility compared to the treatment with monensin. The inclusion of CNLt+CHI in the diet led to a reduction in the molar concentration of acetate and a greater production of propionate. There was no effect for the inclusion of additives, on the synthesis of nitrogen, microbial protein and on the concentrations of urea and creatinine in blood and urine. The association of CNLt+CHI additives promoted a reduction in nitrogen consumption and nitrogen balance in relation to the treatment with monensin. The association between technical cashew nut liquid and chitosan showed the best results in whole grain maize diets, being able to replace monensin.