Feeding sorbitol alone or in combination with monensin to finishing cattle

Three trials were conducted with finishing steers to study the effect of feeding sorbitol alone or combined with monensin. For each trial 15 pens of eight steers were fed high-corn-silage diets. In the first two trials three pens of eight steers each were fed no additive, 35 g of sorbitol, 350 mg of monensin, or 30 g of sorbitol plus 350 mg of monensin per day. In Trial 1 three pens were fed 200 g of sorbitol per animal every 6 d, and in Trial 2 three pens were fed 60 g/d of sorbitol plus 350 mg/d of monensin. For the third trial, three pens were fed 0, 20, 40, or 80 g/d of sorbitol per animal and three pens were fed 40 g/d after 56 d; all the steers were fed 350 mg/d of monensin. In the first trial sorbitol had no effect on daily gain, and monensin increased (P < .05) daily gain. Intake of DM was lower (P < .05) for the steers fed sorbitol (35 g/d). Dry matter intake/gain was improved by feeding monensin (P < .05) or 35 g/d of sorbitol (P < .07). The improvement amounted to 18% when the additives were used in combination. In the second trial daily gains were similar for the cattle fed all diets. Dry matter intake was lower (P < .05) for steers fed monensin or 60 g/d of sorbitol and tended to be lower (P < .12) for the cattle fed 35 g/d of sorbitol. Dry matter intake/gain tended to be lower for cattle fed monensin and sorbitol, especially when fed in combination.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)