HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Interpretive Summary Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fairfield, A. M. Articles by McBride, B. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fairfield, A. M. Articles by McBride, B. W.

Effects of Prepartum Administration of a Monensin Controlled Release Capsule on Rumen pH, Feed Intake, and Milk Production of Transition Dairy Cows

A. M. Fairfield^*, J. C. Plaizier, T. F. Duffield, M. I. Lindinger, R. Bagg^#, P. Dick^# and B. W. McBride^*,1

^* Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
Department of Population Medicine, and
Department of Human Biology and Nutrition, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1
^# Elanco, A Division of Eli Lilly Inc., Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 4T2

¹ Corresponding author: bmcbride{at}uoguelph.ca

Effects of prepartum administration of a monensin controlled release capsule (CRC) on rumen pH, dry matter intake, and milk production during the transition period and early lactation were determined in 16 multiparous Holstein cows. Cows were divided into blocks of 2 depending on calving date. Cows were fed either a close-up dry cow or a lactating cow total mixed ration ad libitum. Rumen pH was monitored continuously using indwelling probes. Monensin did not affect average daily rumen pH, time below pH 6, time below pH 5.6, area below pH 6, and area below pH 5.6 throughout the experiment. Average daily pH, time below pH 6, and time below pH 5.6 before calving were 6.62, 65.6 min/d, and 17.6 min/d, respectively, and did not differ among the weeks before calving. Average daily pH, time below pH 6, and time below pH 5.6 were 6.19, 443.3 min/d, and 115.5 min/d, respectively, during the first week after calving, and were 6.36, 204.3 min/d, and 52.4 min/d, respectively, during the sixth week after calving. In the weeks after calving, average daily pH showed a quadratic increase, time below pH 6 showed a quadratic decrease, and time below pH 5.6 showed a linear decrease. Monensin did not affect dry matter intake and daily yields of milk, milk fat, and milk protein. Results suggest that prepartum administration of a monensin CRC did not increase rumen pH in multiparous cows fed the experimental diets during the transition period and early lactation.

Key Words: transition dairy cow • monensin controlled release capsule • rumen pH • milk production

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Q. Zebeli, J. Dijkstra, M. Tafaj, H. Steingass, B. N. Ametaj, and W. Drochner Modeling the Adequacy of Dietary Fiber in Dairy Cows Based on the Responses of Ruminal pH and Milk Fat Production to Composition of the Diet J Dairy Sci, May 1, 2008; 91(5): 2046 - 2066. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]