Uso de aditivos microbianos e suas implicações sobre a digestibilidade e desempenho de ruminantes bovinos

Abstract

Ruminants are spread practically all over the world, being highlighted as one of the main economic creations of several countries. The stomach of these animals is multicavitary, having four chambers: reticulum, rumen, omasum and abomasum. The rumen is the main fermentation chamber, made up of a large population of microorganisms living in symbiosis with the host. The diet of ruminants consists of fibrous carbohydrates, which are digested with the aid of the natural ruminal microbiota, but which can be enhanced by the use of Direct Fed Microbials (DFM) which can be supplemented orally to produce a beneficial response to the health and performance of the host animal. Thus, the objective of this research was to understand how the use of DFM can enhance the natural microbiota of bovine ruminants, contributing to digestibility and beneficial effects on animal performance. The methodology was based on a literature review on bovine ruminants, from reliable and current sources, with different authors and from different regions of Brazil or the world (national and international journals). Cattle have a powerful and efficient ruminal microbiota, consisting of diverse microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, filamentous fungi, yeasts and protozoa. In general, the beneficial effects with the use of DFM from the literature are favoring intestinal health, greater digestibility and fibrolytic potential, nutritional gain and maximization of animal performance. Although the microbiota is essential for the digestion of fibrous foods, the maximization of animal performance can be achieved through the use of DFM, ensuring a greater economic return to the cattle producer.