Economic evaluation of the association of additives in diets of Nellore cattle finished intensively on tropical pasture

Beef cattle farming in Brazil is predominantly based on pasture systems and faces challenges in the dry season due to the decrease in the quantity and quality of forage. To maintain productivity, intensive pasture finishing (IPF) is implemented, which requires the use of additives to ensure animal performance and rumen health. It is therefore essential to assess the economic viability of this practice. Thus, the present study aimed to identify which combination of additives provides the highest financial return in intensive pasture-based finishing systems for Nelore cattle in the Amazon biome. The research took place at Fazenda Gamada, Nova Canaã Norte - MT, for 120 days, with Mombaça grass pasture divided into 15 paddocks. The design was randomized, with five treatments and three replications: Lasalocid (control); Lasalocid + Actigen®; Lasalocid + ADV Fortuna LM; Lasalocid + Probios Precise®; and Lasalocid + LithoNutri®. The costs were evaluated according to the CONAB and IMEA standards. All the treatments resulted in positive economic viability. The highest net profits were obtained with Lasalocid and Lasalocid + ADV Fortuna LM, with profitability values of 8.4% and 8.8%, respectively. All the IFP additive combinations proved to be economically viable, with the L and LADV treatments being the most profitable.