Effect of monensin on total volatile fatty acid production by steers fed a high grain diet.
Four rumen-fistulated steers, averaging 315 kg during two experimental periods were used in a replicated 2 X 2 Latin square study designed to determine the effects of monensin supplementation on rumen volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, pH and liquid volume. A 72% steam-flaked, sorghum grain diet was fed twice daily at 0700 and 1700 h at 2.0% of live body weight. Production rates were determined at 11 times during a 24-h feeding cycle by short-term in vitro incubations of whole rumen contents. Monensin increased moles/100 mol (P less than .05) and production rate (mumoles X liter-1 X min-1; P greater than .01) of propionate and depressed moles/100 mol (P less than .01) and production rate (P less than .05) of butyrate. Moles of acetate/100 mol were not affected (P greater than .05) by monensin. Daily propionate production (moles) was increased (P less than .01) by 37% by monensin. Monensin increased total production of acetate (11%) and total VFA production (16%), both nonsignificantly. Both rumen pH and liquid volumes were increased nonsignificantly by monensin.
D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D019342:Acetic Acid; D000818:Animals; D002087:Butyrates / Q000378:metabolism; D020148:Butyric Acid; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D002523:Edible Grain; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005285:Fermentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005503:Food Additives; D005663:Furans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008985:Monensin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism; D012417:Rumen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D000085:Acetates; D002087:Butyrates; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D005503:Food Additives; D005663:Furans; D011422:Propionates; D020148:Butyric Acid; D008985:Monensin; C029658:propionic acid; D019342:Acetic Acid