Author(s) |
Simanungkalit, Gamaliel
Bhuiyan, Momenuzzaman
Bell, Robert
Sweeting, Ashley
Morton, Christine L
Cowley, Frances
Hegarty, Roger
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Publication Date |
2023-07
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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>
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Citation |
Research in Veterinary Science, v.160, p. 30-38
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ISSN |
1532-2661
0034-5288
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Link | |
Publisher |
Elsevier Ltd
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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)
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Type of document |
Journal Article
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Entity Type |
Publication
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