Effects of B Vitamins and Mineral Mixtures upon Growth and Rumen Function of Ruminants Fed Purified Diet

Abstract

A growth trial involving 20 sheep revealed that the addition of B vitamins to a urea-containing purified ration did not stimulate gains by sheep. Sheep consuming the isolated soy-protein ration produced greater gains (P < 0.01) and required less feed per unit of gain (P < 0.01) than sheep consuming any of the urea-containing rations. A set of identical-twin steers equipped with permanent fistula plugs was used to compare the effects of acid and basic mineral mixtures when included in an urea-containing purified ration on rumen volume, rumen pH, ruminal synthesis of riboflavin, niacin and thiamine, and production of acetic, propionic and butyric plus higher acids. It was found that the steer consuming the basic mineral ration had a higher rumen pH, larger rumen volume, greater total milliequivalents of acetic (P < 0.01) propionic (P < 0.01) and butyric plus higher acids (P < 0.01) and a greater average concentration per gram of dry rumen contents of riboflavin (P < 0.01) and thiamine (P < 0.05) than did the steer consuming the acid mineral ration.