Effects of monensin and virginiamycin supplementation in finishing diets with distiller dried grains plus solubles on growth performance and digestive function of steers

Abstract

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the influence of virginiamycin (26 mg/kg) and monensin (34 mg/kg) supplementation of a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet containing 15% distiller dried grains plus solubles (DDGS) on growth performance and digestive function. In Trial 1, 135 steers (257 ± 21 kg) were used to evaluate treatment effects on 145-d growth performance. There were no treatment effects (P > 0.20) on dry matter intake (DMI). Antibiotic supplementation tended to increase average daily gain (ADG; 7%, P = 0.07); increased gain efficiency (11%, P < 0.01) and estimated dietary net energy (NE; 10%, P < 0.01). Carcass marbling score was greater (12%, P = 0.04) for virginiamycin vs. monensin. In Trial 2, three Holstein steers (300 ± 7 kg) were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square to evaluate treatment effects on digestion. Both monensin and virginiamycin depressed ruminal digestion of organic matter (OM; 6%, P < 0.01) and feed nitrogen (N, 15%, P = 0.03) and microbial protein synthesis (15%, P = 0.03). There were no treatment effects of total tract OM and N digestion. Antibiotic supplementation increased (2.3%, P = 0.02) ruminal pH, associated with decreased (7%, P = 0.04) ruminal volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations. It is concluded that monensin and virginiamycin supplementation of growing-finishing diets for feedlot cattle may enhance daily weight gain, gain efficiency and dietary energetics. These effects are associated with a shift towards great intestinal OM digestion and decreased ruminal degradation of feed N and microbial protein synthesis.

Effect of increasing monensin sodium levels in diets with virginiamycin on the finishing of Nellore cattle

“…The trend to greater hot carcass weight obtained with the MON0 diet compared to control diet agrees with the study of Montano et al (2015). The trend to greater hot carcass weight obtained with the MON0 diet compared to control diet agrees with the study of Montano et al (2015).…”

“…In the present study, the increase in dietary net energy (maintenance and gain) resulting from the combination of increasing doses of MON with VM may have had a positive impact on the gain : feed ratio. Montano et al (2015), using MON or VM, observed an increase of 9% and 11%, respectively, in dietary net energy for maintenance. Barreras et al (2013) obtained an increase in dietary net energy for maintenance (3% more) and gain (4% more) using MON, while Salinas-Chavira et al (2009) observed a 5% increase in dietary net energy with the use of VM.…”

Carcass traits of sheep fed banana pseudostem hay

“…In experiments with feedlot calves, no differences were found for hot carcass weight or hot carcass yield of animals supplemented with virginiamycin (MONTANO et al, 2015;LEMOS et al, 2016;NAVARRETE et al, 2017). In a trial with feedlot sheep receiving 60: 40 concentrate: roughage ratio diets, treatments using banana pseudostem hay as roughage provided better results compared to those with Cynodon sp.…”

“…As such, in a high-grain diet, it increases pH, reduces ammoniacal nitrogen, and cause no changes in the population of fibrolytic bacteria (GUO et al, 2010). In feedlot Holstein calves, virginiamycin improved feed conversion (SALINAS-CHAVIRA et al, 2016) and increased the amount of dietary protein reaching the duodenum (MONTANO et al, 2015).…”

Effect of adding crude glycerine to diets with feed additives on the feed intake, ruminal degradability, volatile fatty acid concentrations and in vitro gas production of feedlot Nellore cattle

“…However, according to Deswysen, Ellis, Pond, Jenkins, and Connelly (), sodium monensin can decrease the ruminal turnover of solids and liquids, affecting rumen filling, rumination and motility, thus reducing the consumption, in addition to being able to increase the dietary energy content without increasing net energy intake (Benatti, Alves Neto, Oliveira, Resende, & Siqueira, ; Montano, Manriquez, Salinas‐Chavira, Torrentera, & Zinn, ). In this study, calculated dietary net energy for gain was similar between treatment diets (~1.1 Mcal/kg DM, Table ), possibly indicating that there was an increase in the efficiency of energy utilization with reducing in dietary requirements.…”