The Effect of Chlortetracycline Feeding on Cellulose Digestion in the Bovine Rumen

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Abstract
Nylon bags containing known quantities of cellulose (Solka-Floc) were introduced through fistulas into the rumens of three steers and cellulose digestion (as estimated by disappearance from the bags) was determined. In the first experiment, two treatments (control vs. chlortetracycline, approximately 13 mg. per 100 lb. live weight daily) were used alternately for 3-week periods with a total of four control and three antibiotic periods. In the second experiment, the three animals served as controls for 6, 10, and 14 weeks, respectively, preceding a 12-week period of antibiotic feeding at the same level as in experiment I. The final control period was 10, 6, and 2 weeks for the respective animals. Cellulose digestion (48 hours after the cellulose was introduced into the rumen in the first experiment and 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after cellulose introduction in the second) was not altered appreciably by chlortetracycline feeding. Copyright © . .