The study was conducted to evaluate effects of sodium monensin, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and a mixture of both, in cattle diets, on ruminal pH and ammonia concentration, partial and total nutrient digestibility, and microbial protein synthesis in the rumen. Four Holstein steers weighting 320 kg and cannulated in the rumen were used. A 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design was used and treatments consisted of daily intake of: 200 mg of sodium monensin (100I); 100 mg of sodium monensin + 2.5 g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (50IP); 200 mg sodium monensin + 5 g Saccharomyces cerevisiae (100IP), and 5 g Saccharomyces cerevisiae (100P) supplied daily through the ruminal canula. The diets containing 100I showed lower intestinal and total DM digestion, higher intestinal digestion of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and ether extract (EE), higher total digestion of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) and higher apparent ruminal and total CP digestibility. The diets containing 100P showed lower ruminal CP digestion, higher ruminal NDF digestion, higher intestinal digestion of OM, CP, and NFC, higher total digestion of OM and EE, higher apparent ruminal NDF digestibility, higher apparent intestinal digestibility of OM and NFC, and higher apparent total digestibility of OM. Regarding microbial protein synthesis, diets with 100P produced higher omasal flow of bacterial nitrogen and higher apparent and true microbial efficiency. The diets that supplied 5 g/d Saccharomyces cerevisiae increased TDN compared to the other diets. The treatments do not differ for ruminal pH and ammonia concentration.
cellulolytic microorganisms; microbial production; probiotics; yeast
