RESUMEN
The objective of Exp. 1 was to compare the effects of virginiamycin (VM; 0, 175, or 250 mg x animal(-1) x d(-1)) and monensin/tylosin (MT; 250/ 90 mg x animal(-1) x d(-1)) on ruminal fermentation products and microbial populations in cattle during adaptation to an all-concentrate diet. Four ruminally cannulated, Holstein steers were used in a 4x4 Williams square design with 21-d periods. Steers were stepped up to an all-concentrate diet fed at 2.5% of BW once daily. Ruminal pH, protozoal counts, and NH3-N and VFA concentrations generally were unaffected by VM or MT. Mean counts of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus bovis were lower (P<.05) for VM-treated compared with control or MT-treated steers. Both VM and MT prevented the increase in Fusobacterium necrophorum counts associated with increasing intake of the high-concentrate diet observed in the control. The objective of Exp. 2 was to compare the effects of VM and MT on ruminal pH, L(+) lactate and VFA concentrations, and F. necrophorum numbers during carbohydrate overload. Six ruminally cannulated Holstein steers were assigned randomly to either the control, VM (175 mg/d), or MT (250 + 90 mg/d) treatments. Acidosis was induced with intraruminal administration of a slurry of ground corn and corn starch. The VM and MT premixes were added directly to the slurry before administration. Carbohydrate challenge induced acute ruminal acidosis (pH was 4.36 and L (+) lactate was 19.4 mM) in controls by 36 h. Compared with the controls, steers receiving VM or MT had higher (P<.05) ruminal pH, and the VM group had a lower (P<.05) L (+) lactate concentration. Fusobacterium necrophorum numbers initially increased in VM- and MT-administered steers. In the control steers, F. necrophorum was undetectable by 36 h. Virginiamycin seemed to control the growth of ruminal lactic acid-producing bacteria and, therefore, has the potential to moderate ruminal fermentation in situations that could lead to rapid production of lactic acid.
Asunto(s)
Acidosis/veterinaria , Adaptación Fisiológica , Alimentación Animal , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Bovinos/metabolismo , Fermentación/efectos de los fármacos , Rumen/efectos de los fármacos , Virginiamicina/farmacología , Animales , Fusobacterium/aislamiento & purificación , Concentración de Iones de Hidrógeno , Masculino , Rumen/microbiología , Streptococcus bovis/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
Health and ruminal variables were intensively measured during adaptation to grain-based diets in 6 beef cattle with fistulated rumens. The cows had been maintained on prairie grass hay-supplemented diets, and were converted to a grain-based finishing ration by feeding each successive diet (diets 1-4, respectively) for a period of 7 days. Each cow was evaluated and samples were obtained 3 times each day for the first 5 days that each diet was fed. Health variables monitored were rectal temperature, pulse, respiratory and rumen motility rates, fecal consistency, demeanor, blood pH, and blood glucose and L (+) lactate concentrations. Ruminal variables monitored were pH and glucose, DL-lactate, and volatile fatty acid concentrations of rumen contents. Data were analyzed by use of a multivariate ANOVA. We determined that most of the health variables were within reference range limits throughout the adaptation period; however, analysis of pulse and respiratory rates indicated that diets 2 and 4 were stressful. Although blood pH continually decreased during feeding of the 4 diets (7.38 to 7.30), blood L (+) lactate and glucose concentrations had large increases only within diet 4. The pH of ruminal contents decreased progressively from 6.8 to 5.3. Rumen glucose concentration was low (< mumol/ml), except with diet 4 in which values were 8 times higher than for other diets. By the end of the study, the ruminal contents of all animals were acidic (pH < 5.5), and, on the basis of higher than background amounts of ruminal glucose and DL-lactate, it was determined that rumen microbial equilibrium had not yet been achieved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)