MONENSIN FED TO GROWING AND FINISHING CATTLE

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of monensin with growing and finishing cattle. In experiment 1, 80 Hereford steer calves were fed two different silage rations. With alfalfa silage, monensin increased weight gains (+12%) and feed efficiency (P < 0.05) (+11%). When high moisture (HM) shelled corn was fed along with alfalfa silage, monensin had no effect on weight gains, but increased feed efficiency (P < 0.05) (+12%) largely by decreasing (P > 0.05) feed intake. In experiment 2, 72 steer and heifer crossbred calves were fed corn silage for 112 days followed by high levels of HM shelled corn through to marketing at a constant finish. Over an average total of 258 days on feed, monensin increased (P < 0.05) rate of gain (+9%) as well as feed efficiency (+13%). Monensin produced no effects on carcass characteristics. At least part of the improvement in feed efficiency could be attributed to altered ruminal fermentation. Molar percentage of propionic acid was increased (P < 0.05) and butyric and acetic acid decreased (P < 0.05) with monensin feeding.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: