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Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate calcium gluconate on growth, volatile fatty acid production, and changes in intestinal epithelium structure in beef cattle fed a feedlot ration. Twenty Angus steers (450 kg) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: control group (CON) received a feedlot ration ad libitum, and treatment group (CRE) received the control ration with calcium gluconate at 16 g/hd/d. The treatment feeding period consisted of 62 days. No differences were found between treatments in animal performance (weight gain or ADG), or carcass characteristics. Ruminal pH of the CRE group was higher than CON (P = 0.04). Cecal pH in CON was 0.4 units higher than CRE (P =0.03), and colonic pH tended to be higher in CON (P =0.07) than in CRE. There were no differences between groups in gut morphology. Acetate, butyrate, and propionate concentrations were increased in the hindgut by calcium gluconate treatment.