ABSTRACT
Growth and digestion studies were conducted to evaluate the use of ardacin as a feedgrade antibiotic for enhancing digestive function and growth in grazing steers. In Exp. 1, 90 yearling steers (average initial BW of 248 kg) used in a randomized complete block design (block = weight group) grazed fescue pasture without supplementation (CON) or with daily supplements (DM basis) of .4% of BW supplemental ground corn (CRN) or .4% of BW supplemental corn supplying 120 mg of ardacin (ARD). In Exp. 2, 12 ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers and three ruminally cannulated steers (Hereford x Angus; average BW of 347 kg) were used to evaluate the effects of the same supplements used in Exp. 1 on ruminal fermentation and digestion. In Exp. 1, ARD-supplemented steers weighed more (P < .01) at the conclusion of the study than CRN steers, which together weighed more (P < .01) than CON steers. Average daily gain was greater (P < .10) in supplemented than in CON steers; ARD steers had greater (P < .01) ADG than CRN steers. In Exp. 2, forage intake and harvesting efficiency did not vary (P > .10) with supplementation or type of supplement, but total intake reflected (P = .03) the addition of corn to the forage diet. Addition of ardacin increased (P = .02) ruminal pH compared with CRN steers. Ardacin decreased ruminal molar proportions of acetate and increased (P = .01) propionate proportions when compared with CRN steers. Total tract N digestibility was affected (P < .10) by supplementation and by addition of ardacin to the diet. Addition of ardacin to the ground corn supplement increased ADG, in part by enhancing acetate:propionate ratios and increasing N digestion.
