Use of ionophores on total protozoa counting and ruminal pH of cattle and sheep

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the use of ionophores on total protozoa count and ruminal pH of sheep and beef cattle fed with high-concentrate or high roughage diets. Experiment I: Eight Nellore cannulated in the rumen will be used. The experimental design will be double 4x4 Latin Square. The animals will be fed with "coastcross" hay and the treatments will be Control (no ionophore) and 7.5, 15 and 22.5 ppm doses of Monensin. Experiment II: Thirty wethers cannulated in the rumen will be used. The experimental design will be a complete randomized block. The diets will be composed of 90% concentrate and 10% hay, and the treatments will be: control (n = 6; without ionophore), NA5 (n = 6, eg inclusion of 5 ppm Narasin), NA10 (n = 6) NA15 (n = 6) Mo25 (n = 6; addition of 25 ppm of Monensin). Experiment III: Eight Nellore cannulated in the rumen will be used. The experimental design will be double 4x4 Latin Square. The diets will be composed of 90% concentrate and 10% hay, and the treatments will be Control (no ionophore) NA10 (Ex.10 ppm of narasin), NA20 and MO25 (25 ppm of Monensin). Experiment IV: Five wethers cannulated in the rumen will be used. The experimental design will be the 5 x 5 Latin square. The animals will be fed with hay "coastcross", and the treatments will be Control (without ionophore), MO8 (eg inclusion of 8 ppm of Monensin); MO16; MO24 and MO32. Experiment V: Five wethers cannulated in the rumen will be used. The experimental design used will be the 5 x 5 Latin square. The animals will be fed with hay "coastcross" and the treatments will be Control (no ionophore), NA8 (eg Inclusion of 8 ppm Narasin), NA16, NA24 and NA32.