Effect of monensin on grain bloat in cattle (1996)

Abstract

Twelve ruminally cannulated Holstein steers were used to determine the effect of monensin (0, 20, 30, and 40 g/ton) on grain bloat. Steers were fed a bloat-provocative, high-grain diet at 1% of body weight twice daily. Monensin premix was added directly to individual steers diets at the time of feeding. The severity of bloat was scored daily on a scale of 0 (no bloat) to 5 (severe bloat). The scoring was based on the degree of frothiness and abdominal distention. Bloat scores (mean of wk 2, 3, and 4) were lower (P<.0l) for monensin-fed steers than for the controls. The mean bloat scores were 1.43, 1.18, 1.00, and .93 for 0, 20, 30 and 40 g/ton monensin, respectively. Total gas production during in vitro ruminal fermentation tended to be higher (P=.12) for control than for monensin-fed steers. Ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid concentrations were unaffected by treatment. Monensin decreased frothy bloat caused by the bloat-provocative diet, and the degree of control appeared to be greater with higher levels of monensin. Twelve ruminally cannulated Holstein steers were used to determine the effect of monensin (0, 20, 30, and 40 g/ton) on grain bloat. Steers were fed a bloat-provocative, high-grain diet at 1% of body weight twice daily. Monensin premix was added directly to individual steers diets at the time of feeding. The severity of bloat was scored daily on a scale of 0 (no bloat) to 5 (severe bloat). The scoring was based on the degree of frothiness and abdominal distention. Bloat scores (mean of wk 2, 3, and 4) were lower (P<.0l) for monensin-fed steers than for the controls. The mean bloat scores were 1.43, 1.18, 1.00, and .93 for 0, 20, 30 and 40 g/ton monensin, respectively. Total gas production during in vitro ruminal fermentation tended to be higher (P=.12) for control than for monensin-fed steers. Ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid concentrations were unaffected by treatment. Monensin decreased frothy bloat caused by the bloatprovocative diet, and the degree of control appeared to be greater with higher levels of monensin.

Managing Acidosis in Feedlot Cattle

“…Another common practice to prevent grain bloat is the use of ionophores, like monensin. Coe et al 4 reduced bloat scores in Holstein steers fed a highly fermentable diet with the incorporation ofmonensin. Additionally, as the dietary concentration of monensin increased, the incidence and severity of bloat decreased.…”

Factors affecting the rumen fluid foaming performance in goat fed high concentrate diet

“…A 20-day feeding trial was performed. The 14th-19th days of the feeding trial, animals were scored for bloat 2-3 h after morning feeding daily, three raters scored the animals' bloat on a 0-5 severity scale (From 0 to 5, the severity of bloat increased): 0 = no foam; 1 = slight foam, but no pressure and abdominal bloat; 2 = some foam, enough pressure to expel foam, but no abdominal bloat; 3 = some foam, enough pressure to cause abdominal bloat on one side; 4 = some foam, enough pressure to cause abdominal bloat on right and left sides; 5 = some foam, severe abdominal bloat, and in a state of severe compression (23). The average of the three scorers' scores was taken as the bloat score for each goat.…”