Monensin toxicity in cattle.

Monensin has been tested to determine its toxicity and safety in cattle. Single dose acute toxicity and signs associated with toxicity were determined by oral gavage, 7-d oral gavage and feeding experiments with high concentrations of monensin in feed. Oral feeding studies indicated a near complete anorexia resulting from intake of sublethal amounts of monensin. In these cases, cattle recovered from the insulting dose and resumed growth and feed intake. In long-term chronic feedlot, pasture supplement, and reproduction safety studies conducted with monensin administered in the feed, the high concentrations caused cattle to show signs of mild monensin intoxication. Mortality resulted from feeding groups of cattle large quantities of monensin in small quantities of feed. Furthermore, these studies have demonstrated no detrimental effects upon reproduction. Collectively, these studies indicate that the greatest risk of intoxication occurs when cattle first receive a feed containing monensin. Mixing errors and misuse situations under actual use conditions have resulted in cases of cattle mortality. In most cases the mortality was predictable based upon the exposure in controlled studies.

Effect of monensin on the performance of cattle on pasture or fed harvested forages in confinement.

Three series of trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of monensin on the growth performance of cattle. Twenty-four trials were conducted to evaluate the addition of monensin at 200 mg/d to limited quantities of supplemental concentrate for growing cattle grazing pastures. The pastures ranged from dormant end-of-the-season grasses and crop residues to lush green pastures, and were located in several different states. Pasture plus supplement supported gains of control cattle (without monensin) of .24 to .96 kg, with an average of .56 kg/d. The addition of 200 mg monensin to the supplement increased daily gain in all 24 trials by an average of .09 kg daily (+16.3%). Eleven trials were conducted with monensin and energy supplements fed at .907 kg.- head-1 X d-1 to growing cattle grazing growing, nondormant pastures for an average period of 117 d. Each trial was designed to compare the performance of unsupplemented cattle, cattle fed a supplement and cattle fed a supplement with monensin. Cattle on pasture gained .50 kg daily. Supplement feeding increased average daily gain by .09 kg and the addition of monensin to the supplement further increased gain by .09 kg, for a total increase of .18 kg (34.2%). The efficiencies with which supplemental feed was converted to extra gain (kg supplement/kg gain) for the supplement-only and the monensin treatment groups were 10.1:1 and 5.0:1, respectively. In a series of 12 trials, monensin was added at a level of 33 mg/kg air-dry diet to limited quantities of supplemental feed for cattle fed harvested forages in confinement. All trials compared monensin feeding with a nonmedicated control treatment. Hay was fed in 8 of the 12 trials, fresh-cut green-chop in two trials and ensiled corn stover and ensiled milo stover in one trial each. Monensin reduced feed intake by -3.1%, improved average daily gain by .09 kg (+14.4%) and improved feed efficiency by 15.3%.

Administration of monensin in self-fed (salt limiting) dry supplements or on an alternate-day feeding schedule.

Two series of trials were conducted to evaluate alternative methods of administering monensin to pasture cattle. In a series of five trials, monensin was incorporated into supplements at 440 mg/kg to provide an average intake of 200 mg X head-1 X d-1 for growing cattle on pasture. Comparisons were made between daily and alternate-day feeding of the supplements. A control treatment consisting of unmedicated supplement fed daily also was included. Monensin at 200 mg/d and 400 mg on alternate days increased gain by .077 (P less than .01) and .082 (P less than .01) kg/d above control-cattle gains (.54 kg daily). Nine pasture trials were conducted to compare the effectiveness of monensin in increasing the daily gain of growing cattle when hand-fed daily in a supplement or self-fed in supplements that contained salt to regulate supplement intake. Desired supplement intakes were approximately .454 kg X head-1 X d-1 in six trials, .68 kg/d in one trial and 1.81 kg/d in two trials. Monensin produced gain increases of .09 kg daily (P less than .01) with both feeding systems. The daily gains of cattle that were hand-fed and self-fed were equal (P greater than .10). Self-fed treatments containing monensin required fewer changes in salt level than self-fed treatments not containing monensin, and the salt levels required to limit intake were generally 25 to 50% lower when monensin was in the supplement.

Effect of monensin and tylosin on average daily gain, feed efficiency and liver abscess incidence in feedlot cattle.

Fourteen trials were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding monensin at 33 ppm alone, tylosin at 11 ppm alone and the two feed additives in combination on the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, feed:gain ratio and the incidence of liver abscesses in feedlot cattle. Monensin reduced feed intake and improved feed efficiency (P less than .05), and had no effect on average daily gain. Tylosin improved average daily gain (P less than .05) and had no effect on daily feed intake. The effect of tylosin on feed efficiency approached significance. The interaction of monensin and tylosin was nonsignificant for daily gain, daily feed intake and feed:gain ratio. Monensin had no effect on liver abscess incidence, while tylosin reduced abscess incidence from 27 to 9%.

Analytical screening studies on irradiated food packaging.

Foods may be irradiated in their final packaging and this process may affect the composition of the packaging and in turn affect the migration of substances into food. Headspace and liquid injection GC-MS and HPLC with time-of-flight MS have been used to identify and estimate levels of radiolytic products in irradiated finished plastic packaging materials. Fifteen retail packaging materials were studied. Investigations were carried out into the effect of different irradiation types (gamma and electron beam), irradiation doses (1, 3, 7 and 10 kGy) and dose rates (5 kGy s(-1) for electron beam and 0.4 and 1.85 kGy h(-1) for gamma) on the radiolytic products. Any differences seen in comparing the two ionising radiation types were attributed largely to the very different dose rates; for electron beam a 10 kGy dose was delivered in just 2 s whereas using gamma it took 5.4 h. Differences were also seen when comparing the same samples irradiated at different doses. Some substances were not affected by irradiation, others decreased in concentration and others were formed upon increasing doses of irradiation. These results confirm that irradiation-induced changes do occur in substances with the potential to migrate and that the safety of the finished packaging material following irradiation should be assessed.

Migration of formaldehyde from melamine-ware: UK 2008 survey results.

Fifty melamine-ware articles were tested for the migration of formaldehyde - with hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) expressed as formaldehyde - to see whether the total specific migration limit (SML(T)) was being observed. The SML(T), given in European Commission Directive 2002/72/EC as amended, is 15 mg kg(-1). Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was carried out on the articles to confirm the plastic type. Articles were exposed to the food simulant 3% (w/v) aqueous acetic acid under conditions representing their worst foreseeable use. Formaldehyde and HMTA in food simulants were determined by a spectrophotometric derivatization procedure. Positive samples were confirmed by a second spectrophotometric procedure using an alternative derivatization agent. As all products purchased were intended for repeat use, three sequential exposures to the simulant were carried out. Formaldehyde was detected in the simulant exposed to 43 samples. Most of the levels found were well below the limits set in law such that 84% of the samples tested were compliant. However, eight samples had formaldehyde levels that were clearly above the legal maximum at six to 65 times the SML(T).

Pathogenesis of cystic kidneys.

Multiple cysts in kidneys are never caused by failure of nephrons to connect with collecting tubules. They are of several varieties and are caused by abnormalities of collecting tubule ampullae which lead to reduced or abnormal branching of collecting tubules and inhibition of nephron induction or by secondary enlargement of different parts of collecting tubules or nephrons or both whose architecture is fundamentally normal. In some types, the bile ducts in the liver are similarly affected.

Effects of changes in feed level, starvation, and level of feed after starvation upon the concentration of rumen protozoa in the ovine.

Four rumen fistulated sheep were used in five experiments to investigate the effect of feed level upon the concentration of rumen ciliate protozoa. The sheep were fed once daily 650 g of a pelleted diet composed of corn cobs, 45%; alfalfa meal, 35%; oats, 12.5%; cane molasses, 5%; urea, 0.4%; and vitamins and minerals, 2%. The concentration of protozoa reached minimum and maximum values at 5 and 22.5 h after feeding, respectively. Thus, to estimate apparent generation rates, concentrations of protozoa were determined at 5 and 20 h postfeeding. Apparent generation rate/h = natural log of ([concentration of protozoa at 20 h divided by concentration at 5 h] divided by the time interval, [T20 to T5]). Alteration of the feed to protozoa ratio by starvation and by changing the level of feed (200 to 900 g/day) showed that as the ratio of feed to protozoa increased, generation rate increased. Measurements of liquid turnover rates in the rumen showed that turnover rate decreased as feed level decreased. Turnover rate was near zero when the sheep were starved. Small quantities of soluble substrates, added directly to the rumen of starved sheep, maintained the protozoal population when rumen turnover was minimal. Furthermore, as rumen turnover rate increased with increased levels of feed, the effect of substrate on maintaining the protozoal population was negated. Thus, at high feed levels, turnover rate may be the dominant factor controlling the establishment and concentration of protozoa in the rumen.

Effects of monensin fed to replacement dairy heifers during the growing and gestation period upon growth, reproduction, and subsequent lactation.

Sixty Holstein heifers initially weighing 196 kg were assigned by weight to treatments of 0, 200, and 600 mg of monensin. These treatments were fed daily until calving to determine effects of monensin on growth rate, feed consumption, feed efficiency, reproductive performance, and subsequent lactation. Throughout the feeding period the control (0 mg) heifers received sufficient feed to allow a calculated growth rate of .68 kg/day. Monensin treatment groups were fed the same amount of the identical ration over the 448-day experiment. Daily gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency for the 0, 200, and 600 mg treatments were .60, .69, .69 kg, 7.47, 7.46, 7.43 kg, and 12.41, 10.81, 10.81. Although days on trial to first estrus were not different among treatment groups, heifers fed monensin at 200 and 600 mg/day conceived 38 and 34 days sooner than 0 mg heifers. Percent conception, number of calves born, calf birth weight, and calving difficulty were not affected by treatment. Milk production was measured for 120 days subsequent to the experimental feeding of monensin. During this period heifers were fed a common ration ad libitum. Milk production of 17.1, 16.9, and 17.0 kg/day for 0, 200, and 600 mg was not affected by prior treatment.