Table 3.
Parameters associated with the maximum concentrations of CTC in the lower 2/3 of small intestines of beef cattle during the 5-day per os treatment
| Parameter | Definition | Distribution | Fractional contribution to the variance of maximum CTC concentrations | ρ between the variable value and maximum CTC concentration, given variability due to all other variables related to CTC intestinal fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Rate of CTC abiotic degradation in GI tract and other body parts per hour | Beta (0·54, 37·4) | A: 7% B: 9% |
A: −0·30, P-value ⩽ 0·01 B: −0·34, P-value ⩽ 0·01 |
 |
Fraction of CTC excreted in bile | Uniform (0·39, 0·64) | A: 0·08% B: 0·38% |
A: 0·02, P-value = 0·566 B: 0·04, P-value = 0·159 |
 |
Fraction of CTC adsorbed to the digesta or microbiome in the lower 2/3 of small intestine | Uniform (0·69, 0·89) | A: 21% B: 14% |
A: −0·54, P-value ⩽ 0·01 B: −0·43, P-value ⩽ 0·01 |
| Vrest_si | Volume of digesta in the lower 2/3 of small intestine, litre | Uniform (4, 23) | A: 54% B: 50% |
A: −0·78, P-value ⩽ 0·01 B: −0·77, P-value ⩽ 0·01 |
The model was simulated 1000 times, assuming the animals consumed: A – grain-based diet, or B – long-form hay-based diet. The model outputs were subjected to the statistical analyses. The maximum CTC concentration was projected at hour 115 since the start of the 5-day treatment. ρ, Spearman correlation coefficient. Because of the scarcity of data for model parameterization, these results should be interpreted as a hypothesis.