title: Effects of long-term dietary supplementation of monensin or saccharomyces cerevisiae on blood acid-base and productive performance in growing feedlot steers.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two dietary supplements (monensin and a live yeast culture) on acid-base balance in steers maintained in a commercial feedlot system, considering effects over the growing period (14 to 23 weeks of age). A 63-day feedlot study was performed using 42 double-muscled Belgian Blue steers. Steers were allotted randomly to one of the three study groups: (1) control group [no supplementation, C], (2) monensin supplementation [MON] at a concentration of 30 mg/kg (DM basis), and (3) live Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain supplementation [SACC] at a dose of 500 mg/kg (DM basis). Venous blood samples were collected for the measurement of acid-base parameters and L-lactate. Production parameters were also used as a complementary tool for understanding the internal changes associated with supplementation. Our results show that during the study period no statistical differences were observed between supplemented and control steers, although non-supplemented animals tended to gain more efficiently than those fed monensin or yeast. Nevertheless, taking into account blood parameters, these control animals showed a greater risk of acid overload due to a more marked decline in blood buffer levels over time in comparison with supplemented steers although no differences were observed between monensin or yeast supplemented animals. Additionally, significant effect of supplementation was observed in packed cell volume (PCV) values.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain. ccasti@lugo.usc.es
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Benedito
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Méndez
authors.forename: Paulino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García-Partida
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Alonso
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005503:Food Additives; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008985:Monensin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000254:growth & development*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D005503:Food Additives; D007476:Ionophores; D007773:Lactates; D008985:Monensin