ABSTRACT: Adding ionophores to ruminant diets is a strategy to manipulate ruminal fermentation and improve milk yield. This study evaluates the effects of narasin supply to lactating ewes on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield and composition, and performance of the lambs. Thirty lactating Santa Inês and Santa Inês × Dorper ewes fed a basal diet containing 50 % coastcross hay and 50 % concentrate were randomly assigned to two treatments: control (CON; without ionophores) or NAR (addition of 13 mg narasin kg–1 DM). From the 2nd to 10th week of lactation, DMI of ewes was determined, and once a week, their milk production and composition was measured over a 3-h interval. At the 10th week of lactation, lambs were weaned and their average daily gain (ADG) and starter DMI continued to be evaluated for two more weeks. Narasin supply did not affect weight and DMI of ewes. Ewes fed NAR had greater feed efficiency for milk production and displayed tendency for higher milk yield. Narasin supply reduced milk protein levels, but it did not affect other milk component levels. Ewes fed NAR had greater production of milk urea nitrogen and showed tendency for higher production of fat and total solids. Starter DMI of lambs was not affected by treatments; however, there was a tendency for greater weaning weight for NAR lambs. At the end of experiment, no differences were observed in the performance of lambs. The supply of 13 mg narasin kg–1 to lactating ewes improved milk yield efficiency and tended to increase the weaning weight of their lambs.

ABSTRACT: Narasin is an antibacterial agent that may change rumen fermentation. Two experiments were proposed to evaluate the efficiency of narasin inclusion for lambs fed a diet containing high amounts of ground flint corn. Thirty rumen-cannulated wethers were used to evaluate nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, and rumen metabolism (Exp. 1); and forty-five lambs were used to evaluate performance (Exp. 2) of animals fed with narasin for high flint corn diets. The experimental diets were: control or basal diet without additives (C); 25 mg of monensin kg−1 of dry matter (DM) (M); and inclusion of 5 (N5), 10 (N10), and 15 (N15) mg of narasin kg−1 of DM. The statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Monensin increased DM digestibility compared to C ( p = 0.01) and increasing doses of narasin linearly increased DM digestibility ( p < 0.01). There was a quadratic effect ( p = 0.10) for molar proportion of acetate peaking at N15. Monensin inclusion increased ( p = 0.07) propionate compared to C; however, it did not differ from narasin. The increasing levels of narasin linearly decreased the total volatile fatty acids concentration in the rumen ( p = 0.02). Monensin and C showed a similar performance. The increasing levels of narasin linearly increased ( p ≤ 0.04) average daily gain and feed efficiency. Monensin and narasin changed rumen fermentation and improved overall nutrient digestibility. However, lambs that received narasin showed improved performance when compared with animals that received M.

ABSTRACT Two experiments were proposed to evaluate the addition of monensin for lambs fed diets containing a high level of mature ground flint corn. The experimental diets were as follows: no inclusion of monensin (M0) and inclusion of 8 (M8), 16 (M16) and 24 mg kg–1 of monensin (M24). In experiment 1, eight cannulated wethers were divided into a double 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design to evaluate nutrient digestibility, plasma parameters and rumen fermentation. The experiment lasted 112 days, divided into four periods of 28 days each. In experiment 2, ninety-two lambs were used in a randomized block design to evaluate the performance over 56 days. In experiment 1, doses of monensin had no effect on nutrient intake (p ≥ 0.07) and digestibility (p ≥ 0.09). There was a quadratic effect for acetate molar proportion (p = 0.01), acetate to propionate ratio (p = 0.04) and rumen pH (p < 0.01). However, there was no effect on the molar proportion of propionate and butyrate. The monensin decreased linearly the total SCFA concentration (p < 0.01). The inclusion of monensin increased glucose (p < 0.01) and decreased lactate concentration in plasma (p = 0.05). In experiment 2, monensin decreased dry matter intake (p = 0.04). However, there was a quadratic effect for average daily gain (p = 0.03) and feed efficiency (p < 0.01), with the greatest values observed for the M8 diet. Thus, the inclusion of 8 mg kg–1 of dry matter diet (DM) improves ruminal fermentation and plasma parameters, resulting in greater growth performance in lambs.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a inclusão de narasina em suplementos mineral e proteico sobre o desempenho e o consumo de suplemento de novilhos de corte em pastagem. Cento e cinquenta novilhos Nelore com 17,0±0,06 meses de idade e 219,7±1,62 kg de peso inicial foram distribuídos em 30 unidades experimentais (UEs), com cinco animais cada uma. As UEs foram dispostas em 60 piquetes, os quais foram pastejados continuamente por 28 dias, seguidos de 28 dias de descanso. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso. O tempo de duração do experimento foi de 140 dias, dividido em cinco períodos experimentais de 28 dias cada um. Os tratamentos avaliados foram: suplemento mineral controle (CON); CON + 1.800 (N1800) ou 2.750 (N2750) mg de narasina por quilograma de suplemento; e suplemento mineral proteinado (PROT) ou PROT + 360 mg de narasina por quilograma de suplemento (PROT 360). A inclusão de narasina na mistura mineral aumentou o ganho médio diário (GMD) durante o primeiro período e reduziu o consumo de suplemento no primeiro, no segundo e no terceiro períodos, quando comparado ao tratamento CON. O GMD e o consumo de suplemento foram semelhantes entre os tratamentos N1800 e N2750. A narasina tem efeito positivo no GMD até 28 de suplementação e controla o consumo de suplemento mineral, sem comprometer esse ganho.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of narasin inclusion in mineral and protein supplements on the performance and supplement intake of grazing beef yearlings. One hundred and fifty Nellore yearlings with 17.0±0.06 months of age and 219.7±1.62 kg initial body weight (BW) were allocated into 30 experimental units (EUs), with five animals each. The EUs were assigned to 16 paddocks, which were continuously stocked for 28 days, followed by 28 days of rest. A randomized complete block design was used. The experiment lasted 140 days, divided into five periods of 28 days each. The assessed treatments were: control mineral supplement (CON); CON + 1,800 (N1800) or 2,750 (N2750) mg narasin per kilogram of supplement; and protein mineral supplement (PROT) or PROT + 360 mg narasin per kilogram of supplement (PROT 360). The inclusion of narasin in the mineral supplement increased average daily gain (ADG) in the first period and decreased supplement intake in the first, second, and third periods, when compared with the CON treatment. The ADG and supplement intake were similar between the N1800 and N2750 treatments. Narasin has a positive effect on ADG up to 28 days of supplementation and controls mineral supplement intake, without compromising this gain.