Effects of rumen-protected pantothenate on ruminal fermentation, microbial enzyme activity, cellulolytic bacteria and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in growing beef steers

This experiment was to evaluate the effects of rumen-protected pantothenate (RPP) on ruminal fermentation, microbial enzyme activity, bacteria population and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in growing beef steers. Eight ruminally cannulated first-generation crossbred (Blonde d′Aquitaine × Simmental) beef steers, averaging 12 months of age and 363 ± 7kg of body weight (BW), were allocated into a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Four …