It was evaluatedthe effects of using products containing propolis in two propolis concentrations(B and C) and two alcoholic extractions (1 and 3) and sodium monensin in foragebased diet on intake, total and partial digestibility and ruminal characteristicsin cattle. It was used four Holstein castrated bovines, with body weight of221 ± 21 kg, implanted with ruminal cannulla, in a 4 × 4 Latinsquare experimental design. The experimental diets were composed of 72.5% roughageand 27.5% concentrate and had 14.4% crude protein and 67% of total digestiblenutrients (TDN), only differing to the presence of additives. The average intakeof dry matter and nutrients did not differ among diets, except for the intakeof TDN that was higher for animal fed control diet. The supply of additives,mainly propolis, reduced the total digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein(CP) and total digestible nutrients (TDN). The total digestibility of neutraldetergent fiber was similar among additives and it was lower than the controlanimals. The inclusion of propolis reflected in lower pH and production of acetateand total volatile fatty acids and monensin resulted in lower acetate:propionateratio. The addition of the evaluated additives has negative effect on the concentrationand intake of digestible energy of roughage based diets for growing cattle.
