[Toxicity and nutritive action of Pharmakhim's sodium monensin in weaned lambs]

Tested was the monensin-Na Pharmakhim preparation (commercial formula Monensin-100, a 10 per cent premix of monensin-sodium) with weaned lambs with regard to toxicity, tolerance, nutritive action, distribution, and residual amounts in the body as well as with special reference to its effect on meat quality. It was found that doses of 15 mg/kg body mass were well tolerated, with no changes in both behaviour and appetite. The minimum lethal dose was 30 mg/kg b. m. Medicated feed, containing Monensin-100 at rates 10, 20, and 30 ppm, offered to the animals in the course of 90 days produced a positive effect after the 30th day, acting best in conc. of 30 ppm. In the amounts referred to Monensin-100 negligibly stimulated the process of hemopoiesis; more substantial was the improvement of the carbohydrate metabolism, raising the amount of blood sugar (better at the rate of 30 ppm). Histologic investigations of parenchymal organs of the animals treated with nutrient amounts of the preparation revealed no degenerative changes. Neither was there any negative effect on the tested organoleptic, physico-chemical, and microbiological indices of the meat obtained following the use of Monensin-100 in the concentrations referred to. The withdrawal time at slaughtering weaned lambs that had been offered Monensin-100 with the feed in the course of 90 days with regard to the concentrations cited above was shown to be at least 48 hours.