DESAFIOS DO USO DE CROTALÁRIAS EM ALIMENTAÇÃO ANIMAL

Abstract

The specimens of the Fabaceae Family with emphasis on the genus Crotalária have a great prominence in agriculture as green manure due to its high capacity for nitrogen fixation in the soil, control of weeds and nematodes. However, they are plants that produce pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), secondary metabolites that serve both as a protective barrier to them and as intoxicants for herbivores when these plants are ingested. With this toxic potential, cases of animal poisoning of all species when fed with different forms containing seeds or other parts of Crotalaria, as well as in humans, are described in the literature. Thus, it is important to understand the toxicity of these plants to envision safe ways to use them in Integrated Agricultural Production Systems, obtaining benefits for the soil and nematode control, and mitigating the adverse effects that PAs can cause in products of origin animal, which is the objective of the present work. Sunn hemp really are a problem, with cases of intoxication being identified in several animals and even the contamination of products of animal origin (especially honey), which can cause damage to human health. For ruminants, Crotalaria can be used in animal feed as long as the dosage limits for each species are respected, specifically C. ochroleuca is a very safe specimen, and can be supplied in different ways without adverse effects. In humans, as most cases of intoxication are related to the contamination of products of animal origin, it is necessary to control and inspect the products to avoid cases of intoxication.