Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange
Abstract
Four 18-month-old Angus steers were used to study the effects of chronic cryptosporidiosis on feed utilization. Two of the steers tested positive for shedding Cryptosporidium and two noninfected steers were used as controls. The steers were offered a high concentrate diet. Digestibilities of dry matter (85.66 vs 80.33 ± 3.49%), crude protein (80.12 vs 73.47 ± 5.18%), ADF (72.88 vs 70.92 ± 2.32%) and NDF (86.28 vs 84.40 ± 1.99%) were similar for control and Cryptosporidium infected steers, respectively. The mean abomasal chyme pH was 4.72 ± .016. Abomasal weight was 3.72 Ib for the control steers and 6.50 Ib for the infected steers. Although the infected abomasa were heavier, dry matter intake was similar between groups (27.69 Ib control steers and 25.92 Ib infected steers). The infected steers had higher average daily gains (3.76 Ib vs 2.17 Ib, respectively)
