Will, since you're a vet...

[Guest guest]

Will,

I was wondering if you could tell me what an ionophore

is? Recently, Bovatec was approved for feeding to

(conventional) dairy cows. For years it was allowed

for steers (maybe heifers, too). I know from seeing

ads in the past that Bovatec (trade name?) is the same

as Rumensin (Drug name?) and that it is an ionophore

(spelling?). I've known this for quite a while, but I

don't know what an ionophore is. I haven't paid much

attention, but in steers I believe it increases feed

efficiency or maybe just puts on weight faster.

The ad for its use in cows looks like one of the ads

you see on TV for human drugs - lots of side affects

and disclaimers.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

and all,

My knowledge of ionophores is somewhat limited, especially compared to

someone like Jerry Brunetti. However, I know Jerry is not a big fan of these

products. He uses instead, rumen culture starters and many of his

Agri-Dynamics products have good rumen probiotics in them.

As I understand IONOPHORES they are substances similar to antibiotics and

their mode of action is that they alter the transport of calcium and other ions

across the cell membrane. By doing so, they inhibit some bugs in the rumen

(especially coccidia) and elsewhere, and they then favor the growth of other

bugs including some of the " good " rumen bugs like the Lactobacillus ones

that make the good volatile fatty acids that the bovine actually uses for fuel.

By changing the ratios of bugs in the rumen, feed efficiency and weight gain

is increased fairly dramatically. BOVATEC is a combination of two ionophores

that are made originally from Streptomyces bugs. Experts disagree about the

safety and legality of using ionophores but the EU has banned the use for

production animals. I think big user areas are NZ, parts of the Orient and

Australia. Producers who are plagued with coccidiosis but don't know soil

cures like Bovatec.

Some of the toxicity stories are from farm dogs who will eat the cattle

supplement. It's very toxic to dogs and horses as it goes to the cell

membranes of the muscles and won't allow proper transport of ions across

the cell membranes resulting in death.

I'll e-mail you separately with some specific technical information I have on

Bovatec, Rumensin and others. Thanks for asking about this very interesting

line of products, you made me think!

Will