Effects of monensin on serum parameters in Gezel sheep

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

Ali  Kargary Rezapour ¹ (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University of Tabriz, Tabriz.Iran)
پرویز  Namavar ² (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University of Tabriz, Tabriz.Iran)
بابک  Baghbanzadeh Nobari ³ (Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University of Tabriz, Tabriz.Iran)

Received: 2007-08-09 Accepted : 2007-11-11 Published : 2007-08-23

Keywords: Sheep, serum parameters, Monensin,

Abstract :

Five male Gezel lambs received different levels of monensin (0, 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg DMI) with their diet in a cross over design. The experimental diet consisted of 70% concentrate and 30% roughage. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein 1 hour before and 2 hours after feeding and their sera immediately separated to measure the serumic concentrations of glucose, triacylglycerol, total protein, albumin/globulin ratio, blood urea nitrogen, and also aspartate aminotransfrase (AST) and gamma glutamyltransfrase (GGT) activity. Rumen fluid was also collected by rumenocentesis following feeding and its pH determined. During the experimental period, clinical examination was performed and the results were recorded. Significant differences in mean serumic levels of triacylglycerol, albumin/globulin ratio, blood urea nitrogen and the activity of AST and GGT were not seen before and after feeding although there were significant differences in this respect between different levels of monensin (P<0.01). Mean rumen pH in control lambs (0 mg/kg) was significantly (P<0.01) lower than those received 30 and 60 mg/kg monensin but there was no significant difference between the control lambs and those that received 10 mg/kg monensin. Clinical manifestations of acidosis in control lambs (0 mg/kg monensin) were clearly in agreement with rumen pH. Mean serumic levels of glucose in lambs that received 0 mg/kg monensin was significantly (P<0.05) lower than the other treatment groups while total protein levels were significantly higher (P<0.01). The results of this study indicates that monensin in concentration of at least 30 mg/kg of diet can prevent acute and subacute acidosis and the associated decline in appetite.   

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