PSX-A-12 Late-Breaking: Effects of Renergy™ on ruminal fermentation in steers fed a high-grain diet

Abstract

Renergy™ is a proprietary blend of organic acids with a proposed mode of action of increasing ruminal propionate production. Little is known about the efficacy of Renergy™ supplementation in modifying ruminal fermentation in beef cattle consuming high-grain diets. Therefore, eight Angus steers (BW 531.7 ± 20.4 kg) fitted with ruminal cannulae were used to determine the effects of Renergy™ on ruminal fermentation characteristics. Steers were fed a high concentrate diet (DM basis: 13.6% CP, 1.38 Mcal/kg NEg, and 2.02 Mcal/kg NEm) with no monensin sodium or tylosin phosphate added to the diet for 30 d prior to the initiation of the experiment. Treatments consisted of control (CON; no supplemental Renergy™) and Renergy (REN) fed at 27.6 g.animal-1.d-1 (n = 4 steers/treatment; experimental unit = animal). Following the 30 d diet adaptation period, dietary treatments were initiated for 28-d. On day 28, rumen fluid was collected at 3 h post feeding and analyzed for VFA, pH, and NH3. Ruminal pH (P = 0.62) and NH3 (P = 0.56) were unaffected by treatment. However, total VFA (P = 0.05) and propionate (P = 0.03) production were increased by Renergy, 13.3% and 25.7% respectively. There was a tendency (P = 0.14) for acetate production to be increased 10.9% in steers supplemented with Renergy™. Butyrate was unaffected (P = 0.51) by treatment. However, isobutyrate production was lower (P < 0.01) in steers receiving Renergy™. Feeding Renergy™ also resulted in 25% less (P = 0.07) L-lactate production. Under conditions of this experiment, results indicate that supplementing Renergy™ for 28d to beef cattle consuming high concentrate diets impacts ruminal fermentation 3 h post feeding.