What does this research mean for the field?

A combination of essential oils and α-amylase improves ruminal health, performance, and carcass production in feedlot cattle compared to sodium monensin, while the addition of 25-hydroxicholecalciferol offers limited further benefits. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the effects of essential oil blends and α-amylase, with or without 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, compared to sodium monensin on growth performance, carcass traits, and rumen-cecum health in feedlot cattle.

August 22, 2026PLoS ONEOpen Access

Effects of selected feed additives on rumen pH dynamics, physiological responses, and rumen and cecum morphometrics in feedlot beef cattle

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Authors

MNMaria B NiehuesUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)DGDaniel Ioan Campos Gomes de [UNESP] GouvêaUniversidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp)APAlexandre PerdigãoFirmenich (Switzerland)

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Implication

Randomized trial demonstrates that essential oils and alpha-amylase improve ruminal pH dynamics and carcass yield in feedlot beef cattle, suggesting viable natural alternatives to monensin.

Key Points

To evaluate the effects of essential oil blends and α-amylase, with or without 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, compared to sodium monensin on growth performance, carcass traits, and rumen-cecum health in feedlot cattle.
Randomly assigned 24 F1 Angus-Nellore crossbred bulls (initial body weight = 456 ± 21.77 kg) to three diets: sodium monensin (MON; 26 mg/kg DM), essential oils plus α-amylase (BEO; 90 and 560 mg/kg DM), or BEO plus 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (BEO + HyD; 1 mg/animal/day).
Evaluated performance, continuous ruminal pH and temperature, meat quality parameters, and ruminal and cecal tissue morphometrics using a mixed-effects statistical model.
BEO and BEO + HyD significantly increased dry matter intake (P < 0.0001), hot carcass weight (P = 0.01), and dressing percentage (P = 0.03) compared with MON, without altering feed efficiency or meat quality (P > 0.05).
BEO-supplemented groups maintained higher average ruminal pH, spent less time below pH 5.8 (P = 0.02) and pH 6.0 (P ≤ 0.05), and exhibited lower ruminal temperatures than MON.
Ruminal absorptive surface area was significantly higher in MON and BEO compared to BEO + HyD (P = 0.007), whereas cecal morphometrics did not differ across treatments (P > 0.05).

Cite This Study

Niehues et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895eaeca7ade938187cbc9 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0356262

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Implication

Randomized trial demonstrates that essential oils and alpha-amylase improve ruminal pH dynamics and carcass yield in feedlot beef cattle, suggesting viable natural alternatives to monensin.

Effects of selected feed additives on rumen pH dynamics, physiological responses, and rumen and cecum morphometrics in feedlot beef cattle

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Effects of selected feed additives on rumen pH dynamics, physiological responses, and rumen and cecum morphometrics in feedlot beef cattle

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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