Nitrogen Utilization and Digestibility by Growing Steer and Goats of Diets that Contain Monensin and Low Crude Protein

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Abstract
Two digestion and metabolism experiments were conducted to determine effects of monensin in low-protein diets. Monensin supplementation (27 mg/kg of diet dry matter) of steers (303 kg) fed 8.7% crude protein increased (P<.01) apparent N digestibility and N retention and decreased (P<.01) percentage of N apparently absorbed lost in urine. Apparent digestibilities of dry matter, gross energy and acid detergent lignin were increased (P<.05). Digestibilities of neutral detergent and acid detergent fibers were not affected by monensin. In growing wether goats (15 kg) fed 8.5% crude protein, monensin (23 mg/kg of diet dry matter) improved (P<.01) apparent N digestibility and apparent N absorption. However, urinary N excretion also increased (P<.05), resulting in no difference in N retention. Monensin did not affect digestibilities of dry matter or gross energy. Efficiency of feed conversion and average daily gain were improved with monensin supplementation of growing goats fed a low-protein, high-roughage diet. Monensin resulted in typical shift of acetate-to-propionate ratio in both experiments. Results suggest that improved N utilization may account for some benefits of feeding monensin. Copyright © 1986. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1986 by American Society of Animal Science.

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