# Curcumin as a Dietary Additive in Early-Finished Feedlot Steers and Its Effects on Performance, Ruminal Environment, Animal Health, and Meat Quality

## TL;DR

This study shows that adding curcumin to cattle feed improves meat quality and animal health without affecting growth performance.

## Contribution

The novel finding is that curcumin, like monensin, can enhance meat quality and animal health through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

## Key findings

- Cattle fed curcumin had higher antioxidant enzyme activity and lower lipid peroxidation in serum and meat.
- Meat from curcumin-fed cattle showed greater water retention and higher monounsaturated fatty acid content.
- Curcumin consumption increased protozoan counts and bacterial activity in the rumen without affecting short-chain fatty acids.

## Abstract

Curcumin, when consumed by ruminants, has potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Beef cattle that consumed curcumin in feedlots had lower lymphocyte counts, as well as elevated antioxidant enzymes, combined with reduced lipid peroxidation. Rumen fluid showed higher protozoan counts and greater bacterial activity when curcumin was ingested. Greater water retention capacity in meat, combined with less oxidation, was observed in animals that consumed curcumin. A higher quantity of monounsaturated fatty acids was observed in the meat when curcumin was consumed.

The present study aimed to evaluate whether the inclusion of curcumin as a performance enhancer in finishing cattle has positive effects on animal production, the ruminal environment, hematological and biochemical markers, as well as meat quality. Sixteen castrated Holstein steers, 8 months of age, with an average body weight of 247 ± 3.89 kg were divided into two groups: Control, consisting of animals that consumed 144 mg of monensin/animal/day (n = 8); Treatment, consisting of animals that consumed 552 mg of curcumin/animal/day (n = 8). Animals were fed a diet containing 44% roughage (corn silage) and 56% concentrate for 105 days. During this period, body weight measurements were recorded, and blood samples were collected for the determination of hematological, biochemical, and immunological variables. At the end of the experimental period, animals were slaughtered and meat samples were collected for evaluation. No differences were observed between groups for animal performance, feed intake, or feed efficiency. A lower leukocyte count (lymphocyte and granulocyte) and a higher platelet count were observed in animals that consumed curcumin. These animals also exhibited higher cholesterol levels, along with lower circulating glucose concentrations compared to the control group. In the ruminal environment, higher bacterial activity and greater protozoal counts were observed in the treatment group, but no effects on ruminal short-chain fatty acids were observed. Higher activity of the enzymes glutathione S-transferase in serum and superoxide dismutase in meat was observed, combined with lower lipid peroxidation in serum and meat. Meat from steers fed curcumin showed greater yellow color intensity, higher water-holding capacity, and a higher proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids compared to the control group. These results suggest that curcumin can be used as a performance enhancer, similar to monensin, when thinking about performance, but beyond that, curcumin triggered anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action.