Blood parameters of dairy cows fed different dietary sodic monensin levels

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding sodic monensin on blood parameters of dairy cows. Twelve Holstein cows were allotted to four balanced 3x3 Latin squares, according to the following treatments: control (C) - basal diet without sodic monensin addition; Monensin 24 (M24) - addition of 24 mg/kg DM of sodic monensin in the diet; and Monensin 48 (M48) - addition of 48 mg/kg DM of sodic monensin in the diet. Monensin was added to concentrate. Blood samples were collected by puncture of the vein and/or artery coccygeal, and then obtained the serum or plasma for laboratory testing. The blood concentrations of glucose, total triglycerides, total cholesterol, cholesterol-HDL, cholesterol-LDL, cholesterol-VLDL, total protein, albumin, urea and serum ureic nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase were determined. No treatment effect (P>0.05) on blood parameters, except for the enzyme alkaline phosphatase, was observed. The dietary sodic monensin levels used in this trial do not affect the blood parameters.