Effect of monensin on the performance of cattle on pasture or fed harvested forages in confinement.

Three series of trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of monensin on the growth performance of cattle. Twenty-four trials were conducted to evaluate the addition of monensin at 200 mg/d to limited quantities of supplemental concentrate for growing cattle grazing pastures. The pastures ranged from dormant end-of-the-season grasses and crop residues to lush green pastures, and were located in several different states. Pasture plus supplement supported gains of control cattle (without monensin) of .24 to .96 kg, with an average of .56 kg/d. The addition of 200 mg monensin to the supplement increased daily gain in all 24 trials by an average of .09 kg daily (+16.3%). Eleven trials were conducted with monensin and energy supplements fed at .907 kg.- head-1 X d-1 to growing cattle grazing growing, nondormant pastures for an average period of 117 d. Each trial was designed to compare the performance of unsupplemented cattle, cattle fed a supplement and cattle fed a supplement with monensin. Cattle on pasture gained .50 kg daily. Supplement feeding increased average daily gain by .09 kg and the addition of monensin to the supplement further increased gain by .09 kg, for a total increase of .18 kg (34.2%). The efficiencies with which supplemental feed was converted to extra gain (kg supplement/kg gain) for the supplement-only and the monensin treatment groups were 10.1:1 and 5.0:1, respectively. In a series of 12 trials, monensin was added at a level of 33 mg/kg air-dry diet to limited quantities of supplemental feed for cattle fed harvested forages in confinement. All trials compared monensin feeding with a nonmedicated control treatment. Hay was fed in 8 of the 12 trials, fresh-cut green-chop in two trials and ensiled corn stover and ensiled milo stover in one trial each. Monensin reduced feed intake by -3.1%, improved average daily gain by .09 kg (+14.4%) and improved feed efficiency by 15.3%.