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Organic acids as a substitute for monensin in diets for beef cattle

Abstract:

Feeding cattle high-grain diets has brought concurrent problems with ruminal acidosis. Grain overload in feedlot cattle has gained the most attention because of its economic impact. In fact, ruminal acidosis is second only to respiratory diseases, in depressing animal performance and production efficiency. Much of the past research has focused on effects of antimicrobial compounds (such as monensin) on ruminal fermentation; they have become management tools to prevent or to control ruminal acidosis. Despite beneficial effects of such compounds, in 2002 the European Commission proposed to ban on antibiotic growth promotants including monensin. This legislation has important economic implications in production cost of beef. Several nutritional alternatives to monensin have been studied in vitro with diverse results. This paper provides an overview of research with organic acids (malate and fumarate) for beef cattle as a substitute for monensin. Although these organic acids may be considered as feed additives, more research is needed about the effects of malate and (or) fumarate on beef cattle performance. Dietary factors such as forage:concentrate ratio, and forage or cereal grain type may alter the response to these additives. In addition, appropriate timing for supplementing with malate or fumarate must be studied. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.