Monensin Effects on Rumen Turnover Rate, Twenty-Four Hour VFA Pattern, Nitrogen Components and Cellulose Disappearance

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Abstract
The effect of monensin on forage intake, rumen turnover rates, 24-hr volatile fatty acid patterns, rumen nitrogen components, in vitro dry matter disappearance and in vivo cellulose disappearance rate was examined in two trials. Forage intake of eight steers ad libitum fed harvested dry winter range grass was 16% lower (P<.02) when 200 mg monensin was added daily, and liquid and solids turnover rates were 31% (P<.10) and 44% (P<.01) slower, respectively, when monensin was fed. Rumen liquid volume was reduced (P<. 10) when monensin was fed, but total rumen dry matter was not affected (P<. 10). Monensin at 50, 100 and 200 mg/day added to a limit-fed concentrate ration linearly (P<.05) depressed fluids turnover. Addition of monensin to in vitro fermentation flasks depressed IVDMD of harvested range grass with inocula from both control and monensin adapted steers, with depression greater with inocula from control steers. Peptide and alpha-amino nitrogen levels in rumen fluid of forage fed steers and in vivo cellulose disappearnce estimated with cotton fiber strips in concentrate fed steers were not significantly altered by monensin feeding. Copyright © 1978. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1978 by American Society of Animal Science.