Cong Wang, Q. Liu, C. Pei
May 1, 2012
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Influential Citations
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Quality indicators
Journal
Livestock Science
Abstract
Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 2-methylbutyrate (2MB) supplementation on rumen fermentation, ruminal enzyme activities, urinary excretion of purine derivatives and feed digestibility in the total tract of steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. The treatments were: control (without 2MB), L2MB, M2MB and H2MB with 8.4, 16.8 and 25.2 g 2MB per steer per day, respectively. 2-methylbutyrate was hand-mixed into the concentrate portion. Diet consisted of 60% corn stover and 40% concentrate (dry matter [DM] basis). Dry matter intake (averaged 9 kg/d) was restricted to a maximum of 90% of ad libitum intake. Ruminal pH was linearly decreased, whereas total VFA concentration (range of 64.19–71.06 mM) was linearly (p