Effects of monensin on in vivo rumen propionate production and blood glucose kinetics in cattle.

Four rumen-fistulated steers (154 to 253 kg), fed two different diets in succession, were used to determine effects of monensin on rumen propionate production rates and blood glucose kinetics as determined by single-injection isotope-dilution techniques. A high-roughage and a high-grain diet, with and without 150 mg of monensin daily, were fed isoenergetically at 2-hour intervals. Monensin increased rumen propionate pool sizes from 32 to 57 g for the high-roughage diet and from 37 to 66 g for the high-grain diet and increased rumen propionate production rates from 441 to 659 g/day for the high-roughage diet and from 510 to 899 g/day for the high-grain diet. Molar percentages of rumen propionate were increased significantly by monensin in the high-grain diet. Blood glucose pool sizes were not changed significantly by either monensin or isoenergetic diets. Monensin increased irreversible losses of glucose from 582 to 677 g/day for the high-grain diet. Monensin tended to increase glucose total entry rates for both diets and to increase irreversible loss of glucose for the high-roughage diet but the differences were not significant. Thus, increases in glucose kinetics are minor in contrast to major increases of rumen propionate production caused by monensin.