Administration of monensin in self-fed (salt limiting) dry supplements or on an alternate-day feeding schedule.
Two series of trials were conducted to evaluate alternative methods of administering monensin to pasture cattle. In a series of five trials, monensin was incorporated into supplements at 440 mg/kg to provide an average intake of 200 mg X head-1 X d-1 for growing cattle on pasture. Comparisons were made between daily and alternate-day feeding of the supplements. A control treatment consisting of unmedicated supplement fed daily also was included. Monensin at 200 mg/d and 400 mg on alternate days increased gain by .077 (P less than .01) and .082 (P less than .01) kg/d above control-cattle gains (.54 kg daily). Nine pasture trials were conducted to compare the effectiveness of monensin in increasing the daily gain of growing cattle when hand-fed daily in a supplement or self-fed in supplements that contained salt to regulate supplement intake. Desired supplement intakes were approximately .454 kg X head-1 X d-1 in six trials, .68 kg/d in one trial and 1.81 kg/d in two trials. Monensin produced gain increases of .09 kg daily (P less than .01) with both feeding systems. The daily gains of cattle that were hand-fed and self-fed were equal (P greater than .10). Self-fed treatments containing monensin required fewer changes in salt level than self-fed treatments not containing monensin, and the salt levels required to limit intake were generally 25 to 50% lower when monensin was in the supplement.
Muller
R D
RD
Potter
E L
EL
Wray
M I
MI
Richardson
L F
LF
Grueter
H P
HP
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D005663:Furans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008985:Monensin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology
D005663:Furans; D008985:Monensin