monensin and Liver-Abscess

Additives used to improve feed efficiency of beef cattle on high-grain diets requires products that not only increase animal performance but also provide food safety for consumers. Since phytogenic additives such as essential oils (EO) are the main substitutes for monensin in the diet of cattle fed high-grain diets, this study aimed to evaluate, through meta-analysis, the effects of EO as an alternative to monensin in diets for beef cattle on feed intake, performance, carcass characteristics and ruminal fermentative parameters. Ten peer-reviewed publications with 27 treatment means were included in the data set. These effects were evaluated using random-effect models to examine the weighted mean differences (WMD) between EO treatment and control treatment (diets with monensin). Heterogeneity was explored by meta-regression and subgroup analysis. The substitution of EO for monensin did not affect methane production, ruminal pH values, average daily gain, feed efficiency or carcass weight. However, carcass dressing percentage (WMD = 0.38%; P = 0.03), ribeye area (WMD = 0.82 cm

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Diet; Digestion; Eating; Edible Grain; Fermentation; Food Additives; Liver Abscess; Monensin; Oils, Volatile; Rumen

The objective of this research was to use data from multiple studies to comprehensively quantify the effects of feeding 1) laidlomycin propionate (LP), alone and/or in combination with chlortetracycline, compared with 2) monensin sodium (MS), alone and/or in combination with tylosin, at commercially approved dosages, on ADG, DMI, feed efficiency (FE), mortality, and carcass characteristics (HCW and liver abscesses). A secondary objective was to explore potential sources of heterogeneity among the comparative effectiveness studies. A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature and industry reports was used to identify studies that included direct comparisons of these treatments in finishing steers in North America. Random-effects meta-analysis models of performance, carcass, and health-related outcomes were fitted with extracted data, consisting of a total of 17 data sets comprising a total of 135 pens and 13,603 steers. Results showed that pens of steers fed LP had increased ADG (live and carcass adjusted), DMI, and HCW compared with those fed monensin ( < 0.05). However, liver abscesses were more common in LP-fed cattle than in MS-fed cattle ( < 0.05), presumably because of differences in the concurrently fed antimicrobials. No significant effects ( > 0.05) were identified for FE or for health-related outcomes (overall and cause-specific mortality). There was a substantial amount of heterogeneity in outcomes among studies, and when pen size and type of production setting were included in mixed-effects meta-regression models, they accounted for only a small proportion of the between-study heterogeneity found in the meta-analysis models. Therefore, caution should be exercised when interpreting summary estimates in the presence of substantial heterogeneity. However, these results provide comprehensive information on the comparative effects of different ionophores across multiple studies and multiple years, states, and production settings. These unique results can enable quantitative and informed decisions by potential end users of these feed additives that are widely used in the U.S. beef industry for reducing the costs of beef production through enhanced cattle performance.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Body Composition; Cattle; Chlortetracycline; Liver Abscess; Male; Monensin; North America; Proton Ionophores; Tylosin

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of feeding monensin (MON) or a multivalent polyclonal antibody preparation (PAP) against several rumen microorganisms on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, blood gas profile, and rumenitis of Bos indicus biotype (BT) yearling bulls. The study was designed as a completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, replicated 4 times, in which 32 yearling bulls of each of 3 BT evaluated (3-way-cross, TC; Canchim, CC; and Nellore, NE) were fed diets containing either MON at 300 mg·d(-1) or PAP at 10 mL·d(-1) across 3 different periods. No significant (P > 0.10) feed additive (FA) main effects were observed for any of the feedlot performance variables and carcass characteristics with the exception of dressing percentage. Yearling bulls receiving PAP had a decreased (P = 0.047) dressing percentage when compared with yearling bulls receiving MON. Significant (P < 0.05) BT main effects were observed for all feedlot performance variables and carcass characteristics with the exception of kidney-pelvic fat expressed in kilograms (P = 0.49) and LM lipids content (P = 0.45). Crossbred yearling bulls (TC and CC) had greater (P < 0.001) ADG, DMI in kilograms, DMI as % of BW, and improved (P = 0.001) G:F when compared with NE yearling bulls. A tendency (P = 0.072) for a FA main effect was observed for rumenitis scores, in which yearling bulls receiving PAP had lesser rumenitis scores than those receiving MON. When the data were disposed as frequency percentage, 55.6% and 45.7% of the rumens from yearling bulls fed PAP and MON were scored between 0 and 1, respectively (0 = no lesions, 10 = severe lesions). Likewise, a significant BT main effect was observed (P = 0.008), where NE yearling bulls had greater rumenitis scores than those of crossbred yearling bulls (TC and CC). No significant FA main effects were observed (P > 0.10) for any of the fatty acids measured in the subcutaneous adipose tissue, with the exception that yearling bulls receiving MON had greater (P < 0.05) concentrations of palmitic acid (16:0), margaric acid (17:0), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) than those yearling bulls receiving PAP. Feeding PAP tended to decrease incidence of rumen lesions and led to similar feedlot performance compared with feeding MON. Thus, PAP is a new technology that presents a possible alternative for ionophores.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial; Body Composition; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Diet; Fatty Acids; Fermentation; Liver Abscess; Male; Monensin; Rumen; Stomach Diseases

A feedlot (Exp. 1) experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of an essential oil mixture (EOM), experimental essential oil mixture (EXP), tylosin, and monensin (MON) on performance, carcass characteristics, and liver abscesses. A metabolism experiment (Exp. 2) was conducted to evaluate the effects of EOM, EXP, and MON on ruminal fermentation and digestibility in finishing steers. In Exp. 1, 468 yearling steers (398 +/- 34 kg initial BW) were used in 50 pens (10 pens/treatment) and received their respective dietary treatments for 115 d. Five dietary treatments were compared in Exp. 1: 1) control, no additives (CON); 2) EOM, 1.0 g/steer daily; 3) EXP, 1.0 g/steer daily; 4) EOM, 1.0 g/steer daily plus tylosin, 90 mg/steer daily (EOM+T); and 5) monensin, 300 mg/steer daily plus tylosin, 90 mg/steer daily (MON+T). Compared with CON, steers fed MON+T had decreased DMI (P < 0.01), and steers fed EOM+T and MON+T had improved G:F (P 0.58). There was a trend (P = 0.09) for a treatment effect on 12th-rib fat thickness, which resulted in a significant increase in calculated yield grade for the EOM+T treatment. No other carcass characteristics were affected by treatment (P >/= 0.10). Prevalence of total liver abscesses was reduced for steers fed tylosin compared with no tylosin (P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, 8 ruminally fistulated steers (399 +/- 49 kg initial BW) were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 treatments in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square designed experiment. Treatments were 1) CON, 2) EOM, 3) EXP, and 4) MON with feeding rates similar to Exp. 1. There were no differences in DMI, OM intake, and apparent total tract DM or OM digestibilities among treatments (P > 0.30). Feed intake patterns were similar among feed additive treatments (P > 0.13). Total VFA (P = 0.10) and acetate (P = 0.06) concentrations tended to be affected by treatment with EOM numerically greater than CON. Average ruminal pH ranged from 5.59 to 5.72 and did not differ among treatments. Addition of a EOM or monensin to a diet containing tylosin improves G:F, but little difference was observed in metabolism or digestibility.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Body Composition; Cattle; Diet; Digestion; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fermentation; Liver Abscess; Male; Monensin; Oils, Volatile; Rumen; Tylosin

The judicious use of commercial products in livestock operations can be part of a sustainable and environmentally friendly production scenario. This study was designed to gather published data of virginiamycin (VM) used in feedlot conditions of the United States and analyze its effectiveness and optimum dosage in reducing the liver abscess incidence (LAI). The dataset contained 26 studies that evaluated more than 7,156 animals of diverse breeds fed in several regions in the United States under different management. Statistical analyses included contingency tables to assess the nonparametric independence of the LAI, meta regression analysis to remove study effects and to evaluate LAI and animal performance, broken-line analysis to determine thresholds of VM dosage on LAI, and residual-based shading mosaic plots to illustrate the contingency analysis. There were 1,391 of 5,430 animals with LAI scores 1, 2, or 3 (LAI1-3) and 651 of 4,690 animals with LAI A+ (score 3). Our analyses suggested that there was a significant dependency (χ2P-value < 0.001) and significant asymmetry (McNemar's test P-value < 0.001) between LAI and VM treatment for both LAI1-3 and LAI A+. For the LAI1-3 group, only 22.5% of the treated animals had liver abscesses compared with 31.7% of the control animals. The metaregression analysis indicated that LAI1-3 was linearly reduced (P < 0.001) by about 0.42% per mg/kg of DM of VM. The lower 95% confidence interval of the intercept for LAI1-3 and LAI A+ obtained with a generalized nonlinear mixed regression was 18.7 and 20.3 mg/kg of DM, respectively. The broken-line regression analysis identified 2 thresholds for LAI (23.9 and 12.3 mg/kg of DM) at which the reduction in total LAI1-3 and LAI A+, respectively, would decrease faster as VM dosage increases (from 2.14% to 6% and from 1.91% to 4.33% per mg of VM per kg of DM, respectively). Additionally, our analyses indicated that after accounting for the study effects, VM significantly increased ADG at 2.08 g BW/d per mg/kg DM compared with 0.92 g BW/d per mg/kg DM for monensin (P < 0.001), suggesting that VM was about 2.3 times more effective in increasing ADG for the same dosage and feeding period length. All analyses yielded consistent results that led us to conclude that VM is effective in reducing LAI when fed between approximately 12 and 24 mg/kg of DM, and the maximum reduction might occur at approximately 24 mg/kg of DM or higher.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cattle; Diet; Female; Incidence; Liver Abscess; Male; Monensin; Virginiamycin

A total of 3,632 crossbred steers were used in 3 separate randomized complete-block designed finishing experiments. Data from Exp. 1 were analyzed separately whereas data were combined for Exp. 2 and 3, based on corn processing method used [Exp.1 = equal combination of dry-rolled and high-moisture (DRC:HMC); Exp. 2 and 3 = steam-flaked (SFC)]. Steers were fed 1 of 5 treatments to evaluate the effects of monensin and tylosin in feedlot diets containing 25% corn wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS; DM basis). Treatments included: 1) corn-based diet (no WDGS) with 360 mg/d monensin and 90 mg/d tylosin (CORN+MT), 2) 25% wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS-CON), 3) 25% WDGS with 360 mg/d monensin (WDGS+M), 4) WDGS with monensin and tylosin at same levels as treatment 1, and 5) WDGS with 480 mg/d monensin and 90 mg/d tylosin (WDGS+HIMT). In Exp. 1, WDGS+MT increased (P < 0.01) ADG (6.5%), G:F (6.9%), and HCW (3.0%) compared with CORN+MT. Alternatively, in Exp. 2 and 3, WDGS+MT had no effect on ADG (P = 0.18), decreased (P < 0.01) G:F by 3.2%, and did not affect HCW (P = 0.57) compared with CORN+MT. In Exp. 1, addition of monensin to a WDGS diet increased G:F by 3.1% (P = 0.03) and tended to increase G:F in Exp. 2 and 3 (P = 0.09) compared with WDGS-CON. For all experiments, addition of monensin and tylosin in a diet containing WDGS increased G:F (P < 0.01) and reduced total and severe liver abscesses (P < 0.01) compared with WDGS-CON. Additionally, HCW was increased in Exp. 2 and 3 (P < 0.01) and tended to increase in Exp. 1 (P = 0.09) when monensin and tylosin were fed in a WDGS diet compared with WDGS-CON. Feeding WDGS+MT reduced total liver abscesses by 79.3% (Exp. 1) and 57.6% (Exp. 2 and 3) compared with WDGS-CON. Compared with WDGS+MT, minimal differences were observed when monensin was fed at 480 mg/steer daily with tylosin in diets containing WDGS. Inclusion of WDGS in finishing steer diets did not alter effectiveness of monensin with tylosin in improving G:F and reducing prevalence of liver abscesses, regardless of corn processing method. Corn processing method appears to be an important factor in performance response to WDGS with feeding value of WDGS, measured as an increase in feed efficiency, being greater in a DRC:HMC-based diet compared with a SFC-based diet.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Body Composition; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Colorado; Diet; Liver Abscess; Male; Monensin; Prevalence; Tylosin

We used 216 Holstein steers (151 kg) in a 262-d trial to evaluate the influence of dietary magnesium level (.19, .25, and .32%) and laidlomycin propionate (LP; 0 vs 11 ppm, air-dry basis) on growth performance and NE value of the diet. During the initial 112 d of the trial, LP increased (P < .01) ADG (6.3%) and feed efficiency (4.2%). From d 112 until slaughter, LP increased (P < .05) ADG (9.7%) and feed efficiency (4.5%). Across the 262-d feeding period, LP supplementation enhanced (P < .01) ADG (8.9%) and feed efficiency (6.3%). There was an interaction (P < .05) between dietary Mg and LP on NE value of the diet. The enhancement in NE value of the diets owing to LP with .19, .25, and .32% dietary Mg were .5, 3.0, and 5.9%, respectively. Six Holstein steers (302 kg) were used in a 6 x 6 Latin square experiment to evaluate treatment effects on characteristics of ruminal and total tract digestion. There were no treatment interactions (P > .10) on site and extent of digestion of OM, starch, and N. Supplemental Mg increased (quadratic effect, P < .10) ruminal OM digestion. Neither LP nor dietary Mg level affected (P > .10) ruminal digestion of starch and feed N. Supplemental LP decreased (15%, P < .05) ruminal microbial efficiency. Total tract digestion of OM and N increased (linear effect, P < .01) with increasing dietary Mg level. There were interactions between LP and dietary Mg level on ruminal soluble-Mg concentration (linear effect, P < .01) and Mg absorption (quadratic effect, P < .05). Apparent total tract Mg digestion increased owing to LP (P < .01) and dietary Mg level (linear effect, P < .01). There were no treatment effects (P > .10) on ruminal pH. Dietary Mg level did not influence (P > .10) ruminal VFA concentrations or molar proportions. Supplemental LP increased (14%; P < .10) total ruminal VFA concentration but did not affect (P > .10) VFA molar proportions. We conclude that LP will increase daily weight gain and feed efficiency of calf-fed Holstein steers and that this response may be enhanced by increasing dietary Mg level.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animal Feed; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Digestion; Eating; Liver Abscess; Magnesium; Male; Meat; Monensin; Rumen; Weight Gain

Interactions among grain type (grain sorghum, corn or wheat), roughage level and monensin level were studied in four feedlot trials using pen-fed crossbred yearling cattle. In Trial 1, cattle fed high-moisture corn (HMC) were more efficient (.1537 vs .1406 for gain/feed; P less than .01) than cattle fed dry-rolled grain sorghum (DRGS). As level (0, 3, 6, 9%) of dietary roughage was increased, feed efficiency (gain/feed) decreased (.1566, .1461, .1479, .1382; linear, P less than .01). In Trial 2, a grain type (DRGS; dry-rolled corn, DRC; dry-rolled wheat, DRW) x roughage level interaction was observed for daily gain and feed efficiency. Feed efficiency (gain/feed) was decreased when roughage was added to diets containing DRC (.1608 vs .1750) or DRGS (.1674 vs .1465), but not to the diet containing DRW (.1664 vs .1607). In trial 3, a grain type x roughage level x monensin level interaction (P less than .08) was observed for feed efficiency. The addition of 27.5 mg of monensin per kilogram of the 0% roughage-DRC diet tended to improve feed efficiency (.1633 vs .1531), but the addition of monensin to the 7.5% roughage-DRC diet tended to depress feed efficiency (.1476 vs .1575). The addition of either roughage (.1493 vs .1420) or monensin (.1500 vs .1413) to the DRW diet improved feed efficiency. In Trial 4, cattle fed a combination of 75% DRW and 25% DRC were more efficient (.1618 vs .1591; P less than .06) than cattle fed DRC. As level of roughage (0, 3.75, 7.5%) increased, feed efficiency decreased linearly (.1645, .1599, .1569; P less than .0001). Monensin had no effect on feed efficiency. The value of feeding roughage and monensin was variable both across grain types and within similar grain types.

Topics: Acidosis; Animal Feed; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Dietary Fiber; Digestion; Eating; Edible Grain; Liver Abscess; Male; Monensin; Starch; Weight Gain

Fourteen trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding monensin at 33 ppm alone, tylosin at 11 ppm alone and the two feed additives in combination on the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, feed:gain ratio and the incidence of liver abscesses in feedlot cattle. Monensin reduced feed intake and improved feed efficiency (P less than .05), and had no effect on average daily gain. Tylosin improved average daily gain (P less than .05) and had no effect on daily feed intake. The effect of tylosin on feed efficiency approached significance. The interaction of monensin and tylosin was nonsignificant for daily gain, daily feed intake and feed:gain ratio. Monensin had no effect on liver abscess incidence, while tylosin reduced abscess incidence from 27 to 9%.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Feeding Behavior; Furans; Leucomycins; Liver Abscess; Monensin; Tylosin