Abstract #742

Section: Beef Species
Session: Beef Species
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Wednesday 3:30 PM–3:45 PM
Location: Panzacola F-1
# 742
Effect of supplementing heifers on pasture with bambermycin or monensin on growth and development.
Paul Beck*1, John Tucker2, William Galyen3, Shane Gadberry4, Don Hubbell2, Tom Hess2, Doug Galloway3, Michael Sims1, Beth Kegley3, Matt Cravey5, 1University of Arkansas SWREC, Hope, AR, 2University of Arkansas LFRS, Batesville, AR, 3University of Arkansas Department of Animal Science, Fayetteville, AR, 4University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Little Rock, AR, 5Huvepharma Inc, Amarillo, TX.

Spring calving (Block 1; n = 70 heifers; BW 208 ± 21.7 kg; age 231 ± 17.0 d) and fall calving (Block 2; n = 72 heifers; BW 225 ± 31.7 kg; age 276 ± 12.8 d) heifers were used to test the effects of feeding 20 mg of bambermycin (Gainpro; Huvepharma; Sofia, Bulgaria) or 150 mg of monensin (Rumensin; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) in 0.91 kg/d corn gluten feed based supplements compared with non-medicated (Control) supplements on growth performance and development of grazing heifers. Heifers were allocated by breed, BW, and age to pasture groups (n = 5/group for Block 1 and n = 6/group for Block 2). Pasture groups were then randomly assigned to treatment (Control n = 4 pastures in Blocks 1 and 2; bambermycin and monensin n = 5 pastures in Block 1 and n = 4 pastures in Block 2). Block 1 began on 29 October 2013 and lasted 189-d, and Block 2 began on 24 June 2014 and lasted for 161-d. Heifers were weighed full on 2 consecutive days at beginning and end of each block. Reproductive tract scores (1 to 5 score) were assessed before breeding using ultrasound in Block 1 and rectal palpation in Block 2. In Block 1, heifers grazed non-toxic endophyte infected tall fescue pastures, while in Block 2 heifers grazed bermudagrass pastures until 14 October and then grazed non-toxic endophyte infected tall fescue pastures. Heifers were AI bred over 10-d, and natural service bulls were placed with heifers 14-d following final AI date. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) least squares means were separated using contrasts: Control vs. Medicated and bambermycin vs. monensin. Ending BW and ADG of Control (323 ± 4.8 kg and 0.68 ± 0.0167 kg/d) was less (P ≤ 0.04) than medicated, yet monensin (346 ± 4.6 kg and 0.73 ± 0.0163 kg/d) and bambermycin (344 ± 4.6 kg and 0.74 ± 0.0163 kg/d) did not differ (P ≥ 0.69). Reproductive tract scores (3.5 ± 0.60), AI pregnancy rates (30 ± 12.3%) and total pregnancy rates (82 ± 11.5%, respectively) did not differ (P ≥ 0.36) among treatments. This experiment indicates that both bambermycin and monensin effectively increase performance of growing heifers, but did not affect reproduction.

Key Words: bambermycin, heifer development, monensin