The effects of antibiotic-free supplementation on the ruminal pH variability and methane emissions of beef cattle under the challenge of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA)

Simanungkalit, Gamaliel; Bhuiyan, Momenuzzaman; Bell, Robert; Sweeting, Ashley; Morton, Christine L; Cowley, Frances; Hegarty, Roger

doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.05.006

Author(s)

Simanungkalit, Gamaliel

Bhuiyan, Momenuzzaman

Bell, Robert

Sweeting, Ashley

Morton, Christine L

Cowley, Frances

Hegarty, Roger

Publication Date

2023-07

Abstract

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in feedlot cattle during the feed transition to grain-based diets is a significant constraint to animal health and productivity. This experiment assessed an antibiotic-free supplement (ProTect®) effects on ruminal pH variability and methane (CH4) emissions of cattle during the challenge of SARA. Ten 18-month-old Angus steers (472 ± 4.8 kg) were randomly allocated into monensin (n = 5) and ProTect® groups (n = 5) and progressively introduced to grain diets incorporating monensin or ProTect® for 36 days of the experiment [starter (7 days; 45% grain), T1 (7 days; 56% grain), T2 (7 days; 67% grain), finisher (15 days; 78% grain)]. The pH variability on the finisher period was reduced by the ProTect® supplement (6.6% vs. 5.2%; P < 0.01), with CH4 emissions being significantly higher relative to the monensin group [88.2 g/day (9.3 g CH4/kg DMI) vs. 133.7 g/day (14.1 g CH4/kg DMI); P < 0.01]. There was no difference between treatments in the time spent on the ruminal pH < 5.6 or < 5.8 (P > 0.05). The model evaluation for the ruminal pH variation indicated that the mean absolute error (MAE) proportion for both groups was good within the same range [4.05% (monensin) vs. 4.25% (ProTect®)] with identical root mean square prediction error (RMSPE) (0.34). It is concluded that the ProTect® supplement is an effective alternative to monensin for preventing SARA in feedlot cattle by managing ruminal pH variation during the transition to high-grain diets. Both monensin and ProTect® supplemented cattle exhibited lower CH4 yield compared to cattle fed forages and low-concentrate diets.

Citation

Research in Veterinary Science, v.160, p. 30-38

ISSN

1532-2661

0034-5288

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/60878

Language

en

Publisher

Elsevier Ltd

Title

The effects of antibiotic-free supplementation on the ruminal pH variability and methane emissions of beef cattle under the challenge of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA)

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Simanungkalit, Gamaliel Bhuiyan, Momenuzzaman Bell, Robert Sweeting, Ashley Morton, Christine L Cowley, Frances Hegarty, Roger
Publication Date	2023-07
Abstract	<p>Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in feedlot cattle during the feed transition to grain-based diets is a significant constraint to animal health and productivity. This experiment assessed an antibiotic-free supplement (ProTect®) effects on ruminal pH variability and methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) emissions of cattle during the challenge of SARA. Ten 18-month-old Angus steers (472 ± 4.8 kg) were randomly allocated into monensin (n = 5) and ProTect® groups (n = 5) and progressively introduced to grain diets incorporating monensin or ProTect® for 36 days of the experiment [starter (7 days; 45% grain), T1 (7 days; 56% grain), T2 (7 days; 67% grain), finisher (15 days; 78% grain)]. The pH variability on the finisher period was reduced by the ProTect® supplement (6.6% vs. 5.2%; P < 0.01), with CH<sub>4</sub> emissions being significantly higher relative to the monensin group [88.2 g/day (9.3 g CH<sub>4</sub>/kg DMI) vs. 133.7 g/day (14.1 g CH<sub>4</sub>/kg DMI); P < 0.01]. There was no difference between treatments in the time spent on the ruminal pH < 5.6 or < 5.8 (P > 0.05). The model evaluation for the ruminal pH variation indicated that the mean absolute error (MAE) proportion for both groups was good within the same range [4.05% (monensin) vs. 4.25% (ProTect®)] with identical root mean square prediction error (RMSPE) (0.34). It is concluded that the ProTect® supplement is an effective alternative to monensin for preventing SARA in feedlot cattle by managing ruminal pH variation during the transition to high-grain diets. Both monensin and ProTect® supplemented cattle exhibited lower CH<sub>4</sub> yield compared to cattle fed forages and low-concentrate diets.</p>
Citation	Research in Veterinary Science, v.160, p. 30-38
ISSN	1532-2661 0034-5288
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/60878
Language	en
Publisher	Elsevier Ltd
Title	The effects of antibiotic-free supplementation on the ruminal pH variability and methane emissions of beef cattle under the challenge of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA)
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

The effects of antibiotic-free supplementation on the ruminal pH variability and methane emissions of beef cattle under the challenge of subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA)

Files: