Abstract

We are evaluating the efficacy of a ruminal bacterial inoculant (Megasphaera elsdenii 407 A) for prevention of acute acidosis in grain-fed cattle. As a part of this process, we examined the effects of inoculation frequency, timing of inoculation and dose of 407 A for prevention of acute acidosis in ruminally fistulated cattle. Three levels of frequency, two levels of timing and three doses were considered, however, a complete 3x2x3 factorial study was not run because of resource constraints. The study was conducted in two separate trials. The first was designed as a 3x2 factorial experiment with inoculation frequency and timing of inoculation while holding dose constant. The second trial was designed as a 2x3 factorial experiment involving inoculation frequency and 407 A dose while holding timing constant. Both of these trials were conducted as complete block designs with seven blocks, with repeated measurements of ruminal lactic acid made across the duration of the two trials. Changes in ruminal pH for acutely acidotic cattle (pH:≤;5.0) are known to be driven largely by changes in total ruminal lactic acid concentration and that is why this variable was selected for these trials. Area under the lactic acid curves was selected as a method of summarizing across the repeated measures. Response surface techniques were used to determine the optimal settings for the treatment factors examined. Alternative designs will be contrasted.

Keywords

Megasphaera elsdenii 407A, 407A, Acidosis, optimal design, likelihood ratio test, response surface

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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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Apr 24th, 4:00 PM

DETERMINATION OF THE INOCULATION FREQUENCY, TIMING OF INOCULATION AND DOSE OF A BACTERIAL RUMINAL INOCULANT FOR ACIDOSIS PREVENTION IN FEEDLOT CATTLE

We are evaluating the efficacy of a ruminal bacterial inoculant (Megasphaera elsdenii 407 A) for prevention of acute acidosis in grain-fed cattle. As a part of this process, we examined the effects of inoculation frequency, timing of inoculation and dose of 407 A for prevention of acute acidosis in ruminally fistulated cattle. Three levels of frequency, two levels of timing and three doses were considered, however, a complete 3x2x3 factorial study was not run because of resource constraints. The study was conducted in two separate trials. The first was designed as a 3x2 factorial experiment with inoculation frequency and timing of inoculation while holding dose constant. The second trial was designed as a 2x3 factorial experiment involving inoculation frequency and 407 A dose while holding timing constant. Both of these trials were conducted as complete block designs with seven blocks, with repeated measurements of ruminal lactic acid made across the duration of the two trials. Changes in ruminal pH for acutely acidotic cattle (pH:≤;5.0) are known to be driven largely by changes in total ruminal lactic acid concentration and that is why this variable was selected for these trials. Area under the lactic acid curves was selected as a method of summarizing across the repeated measures. Response surface techniques were used to determine the optimal settings for the treatment factors examined. Alternative designs will be contrasted.