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

This Article Full Text (PDF) 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 Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mitchell, G. E. Articles by Karr, M. R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mitchell, G. E., Jr. Articles by Karr, M. R.

Ruminal Volatile Fatty Acid Concentrations in Steers Fed Antibiotics¹

University of Kentucky, Lexington

Abstract

Four mature rumen fistulated steers fed a high-roughage diet were used in a series of simple reversal trials designed to study the influence of high levels of neomycin, bacitracin, chlortetracycline and tylosin on total volatile fatty acid concentrations, molar ratios of individual volatile fatty acids and acetate to propionate ratios in the rumen. Bacitracin methylene disalicylate significantly reduced total volatile fatty acid concentration. When chlortetracycline was fed, the reduction in total volatile fatty acids approached significance. Neomycin and tylosin did not affect volatile fatty acid concentrations. Molar concentrations of individual volatile fatty acids were not affected by the antibiotics studied. There was no indication that antibiotic treatment was effective in narrowing acetate:propionate ratios.

¹ The investigation reported in this paper (No. 68-5-104) is in connection with a project of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with approval of the Director.

² Present address: Ralston Purina Co., St. Louis, Mo.