The use of essential oils as an alternative to performance-enhancing antibiotics in beef cattle: Literature review
Keywords:
Cattle, Ionophores, Non-ionophores, Nutrition, Essential oils.Abstract
Brazilian livestock farming stands out worldwide as a leader in meat production and exports, driven by a significant herd of approximately 234.4 million head, according to IBGE data from 2023. The beef cattle production cycle comprises three distinct phases: breeding, rearing and finishing, each culminating in the production of weaned calves, lean steers and fat steers, respectively. This activity, predominantly based on pasture due to tropical climatic conditions, faces challenges such as pasture degradation and forage seasonality, requiring the use of technologies such as growth-promoting additives to optimize production results. These additives, including antibiotics such as ionophores and non-ionophores, as well as essential oils, improve feed efficiency and contribute significantly to the national economy, although they raise debates about microbial resistance and environmental impacts.
