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Cantalapiedra-Hijar G, Nedelkov K, Crosson P, McGee M. Some plasma biomarkers of residual feed intake in beef cattle remain consistent regardless of intake level. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8540. [PMID: 38609462 PMCID: PMC11014993 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59253-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This study investigated whether plasma biomarkers of residual feed intake (RFI), identified under ad libitum feeding conditions in beef cattle, remained consistent during feed restriction. Sixty Charolais crossbred young bulls were divided into two groups for a crossover study. Group A was initially fed ad libitum (first test) and then restricted (second test) on the same diet, while Group B experienced the opposite sequence. Blood samples were collected from the 12 most divergent RFI animals in each group at the end of the first test and again after the second test. 12 plasma variables consistently increased, while three consistently decreased during feed restriction (FDR < 0.05). Only two metabolites, α-aminoadipic acid for Group A and 5-aminovaleric acid for Group B, were associated with RFI independent of feed intake level (FDR < 0.05), demonstrating moderate-to-high repeatability across feeding levels (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥ 0.59). Notably, both metabolites belong to the same metabolic pathway: lysine degradation. These metabolites consistently correlated with RFI, irrespective of fluctuations in feed intake, indicating a connection to individual metabolic processes influencing feed efficiency. These findings suggest that a portion of RFI phenotypic variance is inherent to an individual's metabolic efficiency beyond variations in feed intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Cantalapiedra-Hijar
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, 63122, St-Genès-Champanelle, France.
| | - K Nedelkov
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, 6000, Bulgaria
| | - P Crosson
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - M McGee
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
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2
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Coppa M, Martin C, Bes A, Ragionieri L, Ravanetti F, Lund P, Cantalapiedra-Hijar G, Nozière P. Relationship between residual feed intake and digestive traits of fattening bulls fed grass silage- or maize silage-based diets. Animal 2023; 17:101013. [PMID: 37952302 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.101013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies tried to identify digestive determinants of individual variation in feed efficiency between fattening bulls, because of their importance for breeding and management strategies. Most studies focused on single traits or single diet. Little is known about diet-dependent differences in digestive determinants and on their relative importance in distinguishing divergent residual feed intake (RFI) bulls. This research aimed (i) to identify digestive traits that differed between bulls diverging in RFI and fed a maize silage- or a grass silage-based diets; (ii) to highlight the relationships between RFI and digestive traits, and (iii) to explore the hierarchy among digestive traits in discriminating RFI divergent bulls. After an initial RFI test of 84 days on 100 Charolais growing bulls fed two different diets based on grass silage (GS), or maize silage (MS), the 32 most RFI divergent bulls were selected (eight efficient RFI- and eight inefficient RFI+ bulls per diet) and measured thereafter for total tract apparent digestibility and transit rate, enteric gas emissions (CH4 and H2), rumen pH, and feeding behaviour. Rumen particle size and visceral organ and reticulo-omasal orifice (ROO) sizes and rumen and ileum histology were measured at slaughter on the 32 selected extreme RFI bulls. Irrespective of the diet, efficient bulls (RFI-) had lower rumen size, CH4 yield (g/kg DM intake; tendency), lower number of cells in the ileal crypts, tended to have longer time of rumen pH below 5.8 and lower proportion of small size particles in rumen content than non-efficient bulls (RFI+). A long-term test for feed efficiency (197 d on average) was performed on the whole experimental period until slaughter for the 100 animals. The long-term RFI value was negatively related to time spent in activity other than ingestion, rumination, and resting, and positively related (tendency) to the duration of ingestion events, to rumen and abomasum size, irrespective of the diet. Diet-dependent effects were noted: with GS, efficient (RFI-) bulls showed a slower transit rate, whereas with MS, efficient (RFI-) bulls tended to have shorter resting events and a smaller ROO than inefficient bulls (RFI+). The transit rate and the ROO size tended to be positively related, while total tract apparent digestibility of nitrogen was negatively related to long-term RFI value, but only in GS. Rumen size appeared as the most discriminating digestive variable between RFI divergent bulls, but this result should be validated on a larger number of animals and diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Coppa
- Independent Researcher, 10100 Turin, Italy
| | - C Martin
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - A Bes
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - L Ragionieri
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - F Ravanetti
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - P Lund
- Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg - Research Centre Foulum, Aarhus University, DK 8830 Tjele, Denmark
| | - G Cantalapiedra-Hijar
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - P Nozière
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR 1213 Herbivores, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
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Guarnido-Lopez P, Ortigues-Marty I, David J, Polakof S, Cantalapiedra-Hijar G. Comparative analysis of signalling pathways in tissue protein metabolism in efficient and non-efficient beef cattle: acute response to an identical single meal size. Animal 2023; 17:101017. [PMID: 37948891 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.101017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein turnover has been associated to residual feed intake (RFI) in beef cattle. However, this relationship may be confounded by feeding level and affected by the composition of the diet being fed. Our aim was to assess postmortem the protein metabolism signalling pathways in skeletal muscle and liver of 32 Charolais young bulls with extreme RFI phenotypes. Bulls were fed two contrasting diets during the whole fattening period but were subjected to a similar and single nutritional stimulus, induced by their respective concentrate, just prior to slaughter. The key targets were protein degradation (autophagy and ubiquitin) and synthesis signalling pathways through western-blot analysis, as well as hepatic transaminase activity. To ensure a precise assessment of all animals at the same postprandial time, they were provided with a test meal (2.5 kg of either a high-starch and high-protein concentrate or high-fibre and low-protein concentrate) 3 hours prior to slaughter, irrespective of their RFI grouping. Blood and tissues were sampled at the slaughterhouse (3 h and 3 h30 postprandially, respectively). In response to an identical single meal size, efficient RFI animals showed higher (P < 0.05) postprandial plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations and insulinemia (only with the high-starch concentrate) than non-efficient animals. Moreover, efficient RFI bulls had lower muscle (P = 0.04) and liver (P = 0.08) ubiquitin protein abundance (degradation pathway) and tended to have lower alanine transaminase activity in the liver (P = 0.06) compared to non-efficient bulls, regardless of diet. A positive correlation between protein degradation potential and amino acid catabolism was identified in this study (r = 0.52, P = 0.004), which was interpreted as being biologically linked to the RFI phenotype. Efficient RFI bulls also had a faster potential for protein synthesis in the muscle, as indicated by their greater ratio of phosphorylated to total form of ribosomal protein S6 kinase (P = 0.05), regardless of diet. Results on protein synthesis pathway in muscle and plasma metabolite concentrations suggested that efficient RFI cattle may have a faster nutrient absorption and insulin responsiveness after feeding than inefficient cattle. We did not find significant differences in hepatic protein synthesis pathways between the two RFI groups (P > 0.05). Our findings suggest that, in response to an identical single meal size, efficient RFI animals exhibited lower activation of tissue protein degradation pathways and faster muscle protein synthesis activation compared to their inefficient counterparts. This pattern was observed regardless of the composition of the tested meals.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Guarnido-Lopez
- INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - I Ortigues-Marty
- INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - J David
- Université Clermont-Auvergne, INRAE, UMR1019, Unité Nutrition Humaine, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - S Polakof
- Université Clermont-Auvergne, INRAE, UMR1019, Unité Nutrition Humaine, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - G Cantalapiedra-Hijar
- INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
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Li X, Yang B, Dong Z, Geng D, Wang C, Guo Q, Jiang Y, Chen G, Chang G, Bai H. Growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood variables of small-sized meat ducks with different feed efficiency phenotypes. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102818. [PMID: 37354613 PMCID: PMC10404786 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The study investigated the effects of feed efficiency (residual feed intake, RFI and residual intake and gain, RIG) on the production performance of small-sized meat ducks. Ninety ducks with intermediate and extreme (high and low) RFI values were selected from 1,083 male ducks of similar body weight, and the 3 groups were then redivided according to RIG. For both efficiency measures, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of efficient ducks were significantly lower than those of inefficient ducks (P < 0.05), while the residual body weight gain (RG) was significantly higher in efficient ducks (P < 0.05). Inefficient-RFI animals showed greater skin fat yield (P < 0.05), but no other differences in carcass traits were observed (P > 0.05). RIG had positive effects on the pH1 value of the breast muscle (P < 0.05), but feed efficiency did not affect the other meat quality traits (P > 0.05). With regard to blood biochemical parameters, efficient ducks had significantly lower triglycerides (TG) (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated that RFI was positively correlated with average daily feed intake and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), while RIG exhibited a strong negative correlation with both (P < 0.05). The average daily body weight gain was positively correlated with RIG (P < 0.05). RIG had a positive effect on the pH1 value of the breast muscle (P < 0.05). Furthermore, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels correlated with both efficiency classifications (P < 0.05). Overall, the efficiency measures did not affect the carcass and meat quality of small-sized meat ducks but could identify ducks with lower feed consumption and fast growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Baolong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Zhaoqi Dong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Dandan Geng
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Chenxiao Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Qixin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Guohong Chen
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Guobin Chang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding and Molecular Design of Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Hao Bai
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Institutes of Agricultural Science and Technology Development, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China.
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Protein metabolism, body composition and oxygen consumption in young bulls divergent in residual feed intake offered two contrasting forage-based diets. Animal 2022; 16:100558. [PMID: 35696770 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein metabolism and body composition have been identified as major determinants of residual feed intake (RFI) in beef cattle fed high-starch fattening diets. This study aimed to evaluate if these two identified RFI determinants in beef cattle are the same across two contrasting silage-based diets. During two consecutive years, an 84-day feed efficiency test (Test A) immediately followed by a second 112-day feed efficiency test (Test B) was carried out using a total of 100 animals offered either one of two diets (either corn silage- or grass silage-based) over 196 days. At the end of Test A, the 32 animals most divergent for RFI (16 extreme RFI animals per diet, eight low RFI and eight high RFI) were identified and evaluated during Test B for their i) N use efficiency (NUE; N retention/N intake) calculated either from a 10-d nitrogen balance trial or from estimations based on body composition changes occurring during the whole experiment (Test A and Test B; 196 days), ii) carcass and whole-body protein turnover rates analysed through the 3-methyl-histidine urinary excretion and the N isotopic turnover rates of urine, respectively, and iii) body composition measured at the slaughterhouse at the end of Test B. Oxygen consumption was measured during Test B for the 100 animals by two GreenFeed systems. Irrespective of the diet, efficient RFI animals tended (P = 0.08) to improve their NUE when N retention was estimated for 196 days or when considering their lower urinary urea-N to total N ratio (P = 0.03). In contrast, NUE calculated during the 10-d N balance showed no differences (P = 0.65) across RFI groups suggesting that this method may not be suitable to capture small NUE differences. Efficient RFI individuals presented higher dressing percentage and muscle deposition in the carcass (P = 0.003) but lighter rumen (P = 0.001), and a trend for lower oxygen consumption (P = 0.08) than inefficient RFI animals irrespective of the diet. Lower protein degradation rates of skeletal muscle and lower protein synthesis rates of plasma proteins were found in efficient RFI cattle but only with the corn silage-based diet (RFI × Diet; P = 0.02). The higher insulinaemia associated with the corn silage-based diet (P = 0.001) seemed to be a key metabolic feature explaining the positive association between protein turnover and RFI only in this diet. Feed N was more efficiently used for growth by efficient RFI animals regardless of the diet but lower protein turnover rates in efficient RFI animals were only observed with corn silage-based diets.
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Atzori AS, Valsecchi C, Manca E, Masoero F, Cannas A, Gallo A. Assessment of feed and economic efficiency of dairy farms based on multivariate aggregation of partial indicators measured on field. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:12679-12692. [PMID: 34600712 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Many of the metrics used to evaluate farm performance are only partial indicators of farm operations, which are assumed to be best predictors of the whole farm efficiency. The main objective of this work was to identify aggregated multiple indexes of profitability using common partial indicators that are routinely available from individual farms to better support the short-term decision-making processes of the cattle-feeding process. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with farmers from 90 dairy farms in Italy and used to calculate 16 partial indicators that covered almost all indicators currently used to target feeding and economic efficiency in dairy farms. These partial indicators described feed efficiency, energy utilization, feed costs, milk-to-feed price ratio, income over feed costs, income equal feed cost, money-corrected milk, and bargaining power for feed costs. Calculations of feeding costs were based on lactating cows or the whole herd, and income from milk deliveries was determined with or without considering the milk quality payment. Multivariate factor analysis was then applied to the 16 partial indicators to determine simplified and latent structures. The results indicated that 5 factors explained 70% of the variability. Each of the original partial indicator was associated with all factors in different proportions, as indicated by loading scores from the multivariate factor analysis. Based on the loading scores, we labeled these 5 factors as "economic efficiency," "energy utilization," "break-even point," "milk-to-feed price," and "bargaining power of the farm," in decreasing order of explained communality. The first 3 factors shared 83% of the total communality. Feed efficiency was similarly associated with factor 1 (53% loading) and factor 2 (66% loading). Only factor 4 was significantly affected by farm location. Milk production and herd size had significant effects on factor 1 and factor 2. Our multivariate approach eliminated the problem of multicollinearity of partial indicators, providing simple and effective descriptions of farm feeding economics. The proposed method allowed the evaluation, benchmarking, and ranking of dairy herd performance at the level of single farms and at territorial level with high opportunity to be used or replicated in other areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Atzori
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
| | - C Valsecchi
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29100 Piacenza, Italy
| | - E Manca
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - F Masoero
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29100 Piacenza, Italy
| | - A Cannas
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - A Gallo
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29100 Piacenza, Italy
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Guarnido-Lopez P, Ortigues-Marty I, Taussat S, Fossaert C, Renand G, Cantalapiedra-Hijar G. Plasma proteins δ 15N vs plasma urea as candidate biomarkers of between-animal variations of feed efficiency in beef cattle: Phenotypic and genetic evaluation. Animal 2021; 15:100318. [PMID: 34311194 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying animals that are superior in terms of feed efficiency may improve the profitability and sustainability of the beef cattle sector. However, measuring feed efficiency is costly and time-consuming. Biomarkers should thus be explored and validated to predict between-animal variation of feed efficiency for both genetic selection and precision feeding. In this work, we aimed to assess and validate two previously identified biomarkers of nitrogen (N) use efficiency in ruminants, plasma urea concentrations and the 15N natural abundance in plasma proteins (plasma δ15N), to predict the between-animal variation in feed efficiency when animals were fed two contrasted diets (high-starch vs high-fibre diets). We used an experimental network design with a total of 588 young bulls tested for feed efficiency through two different traits (feed conversion efficiency [FCE] and residual feed intake [RFI]) during at least 6 months in 12 cohorts (farm × period combination). Animals reared in the same cohort, receiving the same diet and housed in the same pen, were considered as a contemporary group (CG). To analyse between-animal variations and explore relationships between biomarkers and feed efficiency, two statistical approaches, based either on mixed-effect models or regressions from residuals, were conducted to remove the between-CG variability. Between-animal variation of plasma δ15N was significantly correlated with feed efficiency measured through the two criteria traits and regardless of the statistical approach. Conversely, plasma urea was not correlated to FCE and showed only a weak, although significant, correlation with RFI. The response of plasma δ15N to FCE variations was higher when animals were fed a high-starch compared to a high-fibre diet. In addition, we identified two dietary factors, the metabolisable protein to net energy ratio and the rumen protein balance that influenced the relation between plasma δ15N and FCE variations. Concerning the genetic evaluation, and despite the moderate heritability of the two biomarkers (0.28), the size of our experimental setup was insufficient to detect significant genetic correlations between feed efficiency and the biomarkers. However, we validated the potential of plasma δ15N to phenotypically discriminate two animals reared in identical conditions in terms of feed efficiency as long as they differ by at least 0.049 g/g for FCE and 1.67 kg/d for RFI. Altogether, the study showed phenotypic, but non-genetic, relationships between plasma proteins δ15N and feed efficiency that varied according to the efficiency index and the diet utilised.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Guarnido-Lopez
- INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - I Ortigues-Marty
- INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - S Taussat
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - C Fossaert
- Institut de l'élevage, 75595 Paris, France
| | - G Renand
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - G Cantalapiedra-Hijar
- INRAE, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63122 Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
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Lancaster PA, Davis ME, Rutledge JJ, Cundiff LV. Relationships among feed efficiency traits across production segments and production cycles in cattle. Transl Anim Sci 2021; 5:txab111. [PMID: 34345800 PMCID: PMC8324174 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txab111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the relationships between feed efficiency traits measured in different stages of production is necessary to improve feed efficiency across the beef value chain. The objective of this study was to evaluate relationships among feed efficiency traits measured as growing heifers and breeding females and in their progeny in three full production cycles, and relationships of dam residual feed intake (RFI) with lifetime and lifecycle cow efficiency traits. Data were collected on 160 mixed-breed heifers from 240 d of age to weaning of their third progeny, and postweaning performance of progeny until harvest in experiments initiated in 1953, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1974. Individual feed offered was recorded daily, and feed refusals measured every 28 d. Milk yield was measured at 14-d intervals throughout lactation by machine or hand milking. Females and progeny were weighed at 28-d intervals and progeny were harvested at a constant endpoint of live grade or age depending upon the experiment. Feed efficiency traits of RFI and residual BW gain (RG) were computed as the residual from linear regression for developing heifers, dams (RFI and residual energy-corrected milk [RECM]), and postweaning progeny. Feed:gain ratio (FCR) was computed for developing heifers and postweaning progeny, and feed:milk energy ratio (FME) was computed for dams. Various measures of cow efficiency were calculated on either a life cycle or lifetime basis using ratios of progeny and dam weight outputs to progeny and dam feed inputs. Pearson correlations were computed among traits adjusted for a random year-breed-diet group effect. Heifer RFI (0.74) and RG (-0.32) were correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with dam RFI in parity 1 only, but were not correlated (P > 0.05) with dam RECM in any parity. Heifer RFI was correlated (P ≤ 0.05) with progeny RFI (0.17) in parity 3 only. Heifer FCR was not correlated with dam FME or progeny FCR in any parity. Dam RFI was weakly correlated (r = 0.25 to 0.36; P ≤ 0.05) among parities, whereas dam FME and RECM were strongly correlated (r = 0.49 to 0.72; P ≤ 0.05) among parities. Dam RFI in parity 1 and 2 was weakly correlated (r = -0.20 to -0.33; P ≤ 0.05) with cow efficiency ratios that included dam weight as an output, whereas dam RFI in parity 3 was not correlated with any cow efficiency ratio. In conclusion, feed efficiency traits were poorly correlated across production segments, but moderately repeatable across production cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael E Davis
- Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jack J Rutledge
- Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Larry V Cundiff
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Centre, Clay Centre, NE 68933, USA
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9
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Motsinger LA, Young AY, Feuz R, Larsen R, Brady TJ, Briggs RK, Bowman B, Pratt C, Thornton KJ. Effects of feeding a novel alfalfa leaf pellet product (ProLEAF MAX) and alfalfa stems (ProFiber Plus) on performance in the feedlot and carcass quality of beef steers. Transl Anim Sci 2021; 5:txab098. [PMID: 34222826 PMCID: PMC8247745 DOI: 10.1093/tas/txab098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Alfalfa is often included in the diets of beef animals; however, the nutrient content of alfalfa is variable depending on the region in which it is grown, climate, soil, and many other factors. The leaf portion of alfalfa has a less variable nutrient composition than the stem portion of the plant. The variability that is present in the alfalfa plant can make the development of total mixed rations of consistent nutrient content difficult. As such, the purpose of this study was to determine how the inclusion of fractionated alfalfa leaves and alfalfa stems impacts performance and carcass quality of finishing beef steers. Twenty-four steers were allocated to one of three treatments: a control group fed a typical finishing diet with alfalfa as the forage (CON; n = 8), a typical diet that replaced alfalfa with fractionated alfalfa leaf pellets and alfalfa stems (ProLEAF MAX™ + ProFiber Plus™; PLM+PFP; n = 8), or a typical diet that replaced alfalfa with alfalfa stems (PFP; n = 8) for 63 days. Steers were fed individually once daily, weighed every 14 days and ultrasound images were collected every 28 days. At the end of the feeding trial, steers were harvested at a commercial facility and carcass data was obtained. Analysis of dry matter intake demonstrated that steers receiving the PFP and CON diets consumed more feed (P < 0.001) than steers consuming the PLM+PFP diet. Steers receiving the PLM+PFP diet gained less (P < 0.001) weight than the steers receiving the other two dietary treatments. No differences (P > 0.10) in feed efficiency or carcass characteristics were observed. Steers receiving the PFP diet had improved (P = 0.016) cost of gain ($0.93 per kg) when compared with steers receiving PLM+PFP ($1.08 per kg) diet. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the inclusion of PFP in place of alfalfa hay in a finishing diet has the potential to improve cost of gain, without negatively affecting growth, performance, or carcass characteristics of finishing feedlot steers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Motsinger
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Allen Y Young
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Ryan Feuz
- Department of Applied Economics, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Ryan Larsen
- Department of Applied Economics, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Tevan J Brady
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Reganne K Briggs
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Brett Bowman
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | | | - Kara J Thornton
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
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10
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Benfica LF, Sakamoto LS, Magalhães AFB, de Oliveira MHV, de Albuquerque LG, Cavalheiro R, Branco RH, Cyrillo JNDSG, Mercadante MEZ. Genetic association among feeding behavior, feed efficiency, and growth traits in growing indicine cattle. J Anim Sci 2021; 98:5944080. [PMID: 33125460 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters, including genomic data, for feeding behavior, feed efficiency, and growth traits in Nellore cattle. The following feeding behavior traits were studied (861 animals with records): time spent at the feed bunk (TF), duration of one feeding event (FD), frequency of visits to the bunk (FF), feeding rate (FR), and dry matter intake (DMI) per visit (DMIv). The feed efficiency traits (1,543 animals with records) included residual feed intake (RFI), residual weight gain (RWG), and feed conversion (FC). The growth traits studied were average daily gain (ADG, n = 1,543 animals) and selection (postweaning) weight (WSel, n = 9,549 animals). The (co)variance components were estimated by the maximum restricted likelihood method, fitting animal models that did (single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction) or did not include (best linear unbiased prediction) genomic information in two-trait analyses. The direct responses to selection were calculated for the feed efficiency traits, ADG, and WSel, as well as the correlated responses in feed efficiency and growth by direct selection for shorter TF. The estimated heritabilities were 0.51 ± 0.06, 0.35 ± 0.06, 0.27 ± 0.07, 0.34 ± 0.06, and 0.33 ± 0.06 for TF, FD, FF, FR, and DMIv, respectively. In general, TF and FD showed positive genetic correlations with all feed efficiency traits (RFI, RWG, and FC), ADG, DMI, and WSel. Additionally, TF showed high and positive genetic and phenotypic correlations with RFI (0.71 ± 0.10 and 0.46 ± 0.02, respectively) and DMI (0.56 ± 0.09 and 0.48 ± 0.03), and medium to weak genetic correlations with growth (0.32 ± 0.11 with ADG and 0.14 ± 0.09 with WSel). The results suggest that TF is a strong indicator trait of feed efficiency, which exhibits high heritability and a weak positive genetic correlation with growth. In a context of a selection index, the inclusion of TF to select animals for shorter TF may accelerate the genetic gain in feed efficiency by reducing RFI but with zero or slightly negative genetic gain in growth traits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Lúcia Galvão de Albuquerque
- School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Roberto Cavalheiro
- School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | - Renata Helena Branco
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Institute of Animal Science, Sertãozinho, SP, Brazil
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11
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Hebart ML, Herd RM, Oddy VH, Geiser F, Pitchford WS. Selection for lower residual feed intake in mice is accompanied by increased body fatness and lower activity but not lower metabolic rate. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/an20664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Mice bred to be genetically different in feed efficiency were used in this experiment designed to help improve our knowledge of the biological basis of variation in feed efficiency between individual animals.
Aims
This experiment used mice to explore the metabolic basis of genetic variation in feed efficiency in the growing animal.
Methods
Mice bred to differ in residual feed intake (RFI) recorded over a postweaning test were used. After 11 generations of divergent selection, mice in groups were tested for RFI from 6 to 8, 8 to 10, and 10 to 12 weeks of age, and measured for traits describing the ability to digest feed, body composition, protein turnover, basal and resting metabolic rate, and level of activity.
Key results
Compared with the low-RFI (high efficiency) line mice, high-RFI mice consumed 28% more feed per day over their RFI-test, were no heavier, were leaner (16% less total fat per unit of bodyweight), did not differ in the fractional synthesis rate of protein in skeletal muscle or in liver, and had similar basal metabolic rates at 33°C. On an energy basis, the selection lines did not differ in energy retained in body tissue gain, which represented only 1.8% of metabolisable energy intake. The remaining 98.2% was lost as heat. Of the processes measured contributing to the higher feed intake by the high-RFI mice, 47% of the extra feed consumed was lost in faeces and urine, activity was 84% higher and accounted for 24%, the cost of protein gain was 6% higher and accounted for 2%, and the energy cost of digesting and absorbing the extra feed consumed and basal heat production could have accounted for 11 and 15% each.
Conclusions
Selection for low RFI (high efficiency) in mice was accompanied by an increase in body fat, an improvement in the process of digestion, a lower rate of protein turnover and a much lower level of activity. Selection did not result in major change in basal metabolic rate.
Implications
This experiment with mice provided new information on the biological basis of genetic differences in feed efficiency. The experiment investigated the relative importance of major energy-consuming metabolic processes and was able to quantify the responses in protein turnover and level of activity, being responses in energy-consuming processes that have proven difficult to quantitatively demonstrate in large farm animals.
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12
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Alvarenga FAP, Bansi H, Dobos RC, Austin KL, Donaldson AJ, Woodgate RT, Greenwood PL. Performance of Angus weaner heifers varying in residual feed intake-feedlot estimated breeding values grazing severely drought-affected pasture. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/an20152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Beef industry productivity and profitability would be enhanced by improved efficiency at pasture. Our research is evaluating performance at pasture of Angus heifers divergent in estimated breeding values for residual feed intake determined from feedlot data (RFI-f-EBV) under a range of grazing conditions.
Aims
To determine whether Low- and High-RFI-f-EBV cattle differ in their growth response when pasture quality and availability become limiting to performance.
Methods
Eight-month-old heifers (n = 40) weaned at 6 months of age grazed within two replicates of 20, each with 10 low feedlot-efficiency (High-RFI-f-EBV) and 10 high feedlot-efficiency (Low-RFI-f-EBV) heifers. Each replicate grazed each of eight 1.25-ha paddocks comprising severely drought-affected, low-quality (mean dry-matter (DM) digestibility 44.1%, crude protein 7.3% DM, and 6.1 MJ metabolisable energy/kg DM) mixed perennial and annual native temperate grasses at 7-day intervals during repeated 28-day cycles, with Phase 1 with 2834 kg DM/ha and Phase 2 with 1890 kg DM/ha mean starting biomass. Heifers were yard-weighed weekly on nine occasions during the 8-week study.
Key results
During Phase 1 of grazing, the heifers gained 6.2 kg liveweight (LW) and during Phase 2 of grazing they lost 10 kg LW on average. Differences in LW between the RFI-f-EBV groups were not evident at the start or end of the study. However, over the 56 days of study, average daily change in LW calculated from the difference between starting and final LW was higher for Low-RFI-f-EBV heifers than for High-RFI-f-EBV heifers (–33 vs –127 g/day, s.e.m. = 41 g/day, P = 0.026). A similar result was evident when average daily LW change was determined from regression of LW on the day of study (–6 vs –96 g/day, s.e.m. = 41 g/day, P = 0.033). No significant interactions between grazing Phase and RFI-EBV group were evident for the growth responses.
Conclusions
Higher feedlot-efficiency (Low-RFI-f-EBV) weaner heifers maintained LW somewhat better than lower feedlot-efficiency (High-RFI-f-EBV) heifers, as the nutritional availability at pasture became more limiting.
Implications
Low-RFI-f-EBV weaner heifers may be more nutritionally resilient than are High-RFI-f-EBV heifers under drought conditions and, hence, may require less supplementary feed to maintain growth performance.
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13
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Montelli NLLL, Alvarenga TIRC, Almeida AK, Alvarenga FAP, Furusho-Garcia IF, Greenwood PL, Pereira IG. Associations of feed efficiency with circulating IGF-1 and leptin, carcass traits and meat quality of lambs. Meat Sci 2020; 173:108379. [PMID: 33261987 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of feed efficiency classifications on live animal measurements, circulating IGF-1 and leptin concentrations, and carcass, non-carcass and meat quality traits of lambs. One-hundred and two lambs approximately 70 days-old with initial live weight of 24.6 ± 3.71 kg (mean ± SD) were individually fed for 56 days to determine residual feed intake (RFI) and residual feed intake and gain (RIG). Lambs were then classified as phenotypically Low-, Medium- or High-RFI and Low-, Medium- or High-RIG phenotypes. Circulating leptin and IGF-1 concentrations were higher in more efficient lambs (Low-RFI or High-RIG). Variation in RFI and RIG did not affect meat redness or tenderness, but High-RIG lambs had darker meat. These findings show that the phenotypically more efficient Low-RFI and High-RIG lambs produced carcasses with similar characteristics and meat quality as the less efficient High-RFI and Low-RIG lambs but have a strategic advantage of lower feed intake to achieve similar production outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N L L L Montelli
- Federal University of Minas Gerais, Veterinary School, Animal Science Department, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - T I R C Alvarenga
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
| | - A K Almeida
- University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | - F A P Alvarenga
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | - I F Furusho-Garcia
- Federal University of Lavras, Animal Science Department, Lavras, MG 37200-000, Brazil
| | - P L Greenwood
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia
| | - I G Pereira
- Federal University of Minas Gerais, Veterinary School, Animal Science Department, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
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14
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Muir S, Linden N, Kennedy A, Knight M, Paganoni B, Kearney G, Thompson A, Behrendt R. Correlations between feed intake, residual feed intake and methane emissions in Maternal Composite ewes at post weaning, hogget and adult ages. Small Rumin Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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15
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Cantalapiedra-Hijar G, Guarnido P, Schiphorst AM, Robins RJ, Renand G, Ortigues-Marty I. Natural 15N abundance in specific amino acids indicates associations between transamination rates and residual feed intake in beef cattle. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:5841057. [PMID: 32432323 PMCID: PMC7275638 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Improving the ability of animals to convert feed resources into food for humans is needed for more sustainable livestock systems. Genetic selection for animals eating less while maintaining their performance (i.e., low residual feed intake [RFI]) appears a smart strategy but its effectiveness relies on high-throughput animal phenotyping. Here, we explored plasma nitrogen (N) isotope ratios in an attempt to identify easily superior young bulls in terms of RFI. For this, 48 Charolais young bulls fed two contrasting diets (corn vs. grass silage diets) were selected from a larger population as extreme RFI animals (24 low-RFI vs. 24 high-RFI) and their plasma analyzed for natural 15N abundance (δ15N) in the whole protein (bulk protein) and in the individual protein-bound amino acids (PbAA). For the first time, we showed that the δ 15N in plasma bulk protein differed (P = 0.007) between efficient (low-RFI) and inefficient (high-RFI) cattle regardless of diet. Furthermore, most analyzed PbAA followed the same trend as the bulk protein, with lower (P < 0.05) δ 15N values in more efficient (low-RFI) compared with less efficient (high-RFI) cattle, again regardless of diet. The only three exceptions were Phe, Met, and Lys (P > 0.05) for which the first metabolic reaction before being catabolized does not involve transamination, a pathway known naturally to enrich AAs in 15N. The contrasted isotopic signatures across RFI groups only in those PbAA undergoing transamination are interpreted as differences in transamination rates and N-use efficiency between low- and high-RFI phenotypes. Natural isotopic N signatures in bulk proteins and specific PbAA can be proposed as biomarkers of RFI in growing beef cattle fed different diets. However, the current study cannot delineate whether this effect only occurs post-absorption or to some extent also in the rumen. Our data support the conclusion that most efficient cattle in terms of RFI upregulate N conservation mechanisms compared with less efficient cattle and justify future research on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pablo Guarnido
- INRAE, Université Clermont Auvergne, Vetagro Sup, UMRH, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | | | | | - Gilles Renand
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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16
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Parsons IL, Johnson JR, Kayser WC, Tedeschi LO, Carstens GE. Characterization of feeding behavior traits in steers with divergent residual feed intake consuming a high-concentrate diet. J Anim Sci 2020; 98:skaa189. [PMID: 32589744 PMCID: PMC7357578 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine the differences in feeding behavior patterns of steers with divergent phenotypes for residual feed intake (RFI). Three trials were conducted with 508 Angus-based composite crossbred steers (body weight [BW] = 309 ± 57 kg) fed a high-concentrate diet in pens equipped with electronic feed bunks (GrowSafe System). Initial and final carcass ultrasound measurements (intra-muscular fat, backfat depth, and rib-eye area) were collected on days 0 and 70, and BW measured at 14-d intervals. Individual dry matter intake (DMI) and feeding behavior traits were collected for 70 d, and RFI calculated as the residual from the regression of DMI on average daily gain (ADG) and mid-test BW0.75. Steers were ranked by RFI and assigned to low-, medium-, and high-RFI classes based on ± 0.5 SD from the mean RFI within the trial. The feeding behavior traits evaluated in this study included frequency and duration of bunk visit (BV) and meal events, head-down (HD) duration, mean meal length, time-to-bunk interval, the maximum nonfeeding interval, and the day-to-day variation of these traits, defined as the root mean squared error (RMSE) from linear regression of each trait on the day of trial. Additionally, three ratio traits were evaluated: BV events per meal, HD duration per BV event, and HD duration per meal event. Low-RFI (feed-efficient) steers consumed 16% less (P < 0.01) DMI, while BW and ADG were not different compared with high-RFI steers. Low-RFI steers had 18% fewer and 21% shorter (P < 0.01) BV events, and 11% fewer and 13% shorter (P < 0.01) meal events per day compared with high-RFI steers. Furthermore, low-RFI steers exhibited less (P < 0.05) day-to-day variance in DMI, as well as in frequency and duration of BV and meal events and HD duration compared with high-RFI steers. Differences in feeding behavior traits due to RFI were minimally affected by covariate adjustment for DMI, indicating that steers with divergent RFI have distinct feeding behavior patterns that are largely independent of differences in DMI. These results suggest that feeding behavior traits may be useful biomarkers for the prediction of feed efficiency in beef cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ira L Parsons
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Jocelyn R Johnson
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - William C Kayser
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Luis O Tedeschi
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Gordon E Carstens
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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17
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Bach A, Terré M, Vidal M. Symposium review: Decomposing efficiency of milk production and maximizing profit. J Dairy Sci 2019; 103:5709-5725. [PMID: 31837781 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-17304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The dairy industry has focused on maximizing milk yield, as it is believed that this maximizes profit mainly through dilution of maintenance costs. Efficiency of milk production has received, until recently, considerably less attention. The most common method to determine biological efficiency of milk production is feed efficiency (FE), which is defined as the amount of milk produced relative to the amount of nutrients consumed. Economic efficiency is best measured as income over feed cost or gross margin obtained from feed investments. Feed efficiency is affected by a myriad of factors, but overall they could be clustered as follows: (1) physiological status of the cow (e.g., age, state of lactation, health, level of production, environmental conditions), (2) digestive function (e.g., feeding behavior, passage rate, rumen fermentation, rumen and hindgut microbiome), (3) metabolic partitioning (e.g., homeorhesis, insulin sensitivity, hormonal profile), (4) genetics (ultimately dictating the 2 previous aspects), and (5) nutrition (e.g., ration formulation, nutrient balance). Over the years, energy requirements for maintenance seem to have progressively increased, but efficiency of overall nutrient use for milk production has also increased due to dilution of nutrient requirements for maintenance. However, empirical evidence from the literature suggests that marginal increases in milk require progressively greater marginal increases in nutrient supply. Thus, the dilution of maintenance requirements associated with increases in production is partially overcome by a progressive diminishing marginal biological response to incremental energy and protein supplies. Because FE follows the law of diminishing returns, and because marginal feed costs increase progressively with milk production, profits associated with improving milk yield might, in some cases, be considerably lower than expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Bach
- ICREA, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona 08007, Catalonia, Spain; Department of Ruminant Production, IRTA, Institut de Recerca i Tecnolgia Agroalimentàries, Caldes de Montbui 08140, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Marta Terré
- Department of Ruminant Production, IRTA, Institut de Recerca i Tecnolgia Agroalimentàries, Caldes de Montbui 08140, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Maria Vidal
- Department of Ruminant Production, IRTA, Institut de Recerca i Tecnolgia Agroalimentàries, Caldes de Montbui 08140, Catalonia, Spain
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18
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Herd RM, Velazco JI, Smith H, Arthur PF, Hine B, Oddy H, Dobos RC, Hegarty RS. Genetic variation in residual feed intake is associated with body composition, behavior, rumen, heat production, hematology, and immune competence traits in Angus cattle1. J Anim Sci 2019; 97:2202-2219. [PMID: 30789654 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
This experiment was to evaluate a suite of biological traits likely to be associated with genetic variation in residual feed intake (RFI) in Angus cattle. Twenty nine steers and 30 heifers bred to be divergent in postweaning RFI (RFIp) and that differed in midparent RFIp-EBV (RFIp-EBVmp) by more than 2 kg DMI/d were used in this study. A 1-unit (1 kg DM/d) decrease in RFIp-EBVmp was accompanied by a 0.08 kg (SE = 0.03; P < 0.05) increase in ADG, a 0.58 kg/d (0.17; P < 0.01) decrease in DMI, a 0.89 kg/kg (0.22; P < 0.001) decrease in FCR, and a 0.62 kg/d (0.12; P < 0.001) decrease in feedlot RFI (RFIf). Ultrasonically scanned depths of subcutaneous fat at the rib and rump sites, measured at the start and end of the RFI test, all had strong positive correlations with RFIp-EBVmp, DMI, and RFIf (all r values ≥0.5 and P < 0.001). Variation in RFIp-EBVmp was significantly correlated (P < 0.05) with flight speed (r = -0.32), number of visits to feed bins (r = 0.45), and visits to exhaled-emission monitors (r = -0.27), as well as the concentrations of propionate (r = -0.32) and valerate (r = -0.31) in rumen fluid, white blood cell (r = -0.51), lymphocyte (r = -0.43), and neutrophil (r = -0.31) counts in blood. RFIp-EBVmp was also correlated with the cellular immune response to vaccination (r = 0.25; P < 0.1) and heat production in fasted cattle (r = -0.46; P < 0.001). Traits that explained significant variation (P < 0.05) in DMI over the RFI test were midtest metabolic-BW (44.7%), rib fat depth at the end of test (an additional 18%), number of feeder visits (additional 5.7%), apparent digestibility of the ration by animals (additional 2.4%) and white blood-cell count (2.1%), and the cellular immune response to vaccine injection (additional 1.1%; P < 0.1), leaving ~23% of the variation in DMI unexplained. The same traits (BW excluded) explained 33%, 12%, 3.6%, 3.7%, and 3.1%, and together explained 57% of the variation in RFIf. This experiment showed that genetic variation in RFI was accompanied by variation in estimated body composition, behavior, rumen, fasted heat production, hematology, and immune competence traits, and that variation in feedlot DMI and RFIf was due to differences in BW, scanned fatness, and many other factors in these cattle fed ad libitum and able to display any innate differences in appetite, temperament, feeding behavior, and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Herd
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW, Australia.,Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Jose I Velazco
- Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia.,National Institute of Agricultural Research, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay
| | - Helen Smith
- Local Land Services Agency, Braidwood, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul F Arthur
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle, NSW, Australia
| | - Brad Hine
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, F.D McMaster Laboratory, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Hutton Oddy
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Robin C Dobos
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Livestock Industries Centre, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Roger S Hegarty
- Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
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19
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Xie Y, Wu Z, Wang D, Liu J. Nitrogen partitioning and microbial protein synthesis in lactating dairy cows with different phenotypic residual feed intake. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2019; 10:54. [PMID: 31236271 PMCID: PMC6580507 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-019-0356-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Residual feed intake (RFI) is an inheritable measure of feed efficiency that is independent on level of production. However, physiological and metabolic mechanisms underlying divergent RFI are not fully elucidated. This study was conducted to investigate dietary nitrogen (N) partitioning and microbial protein synthesis in lactating dairy cows divergent in phenotypic RFI. Results Thirty Holstein dairy cows (milk yield = 35.3 ± 4.71 kg/d; milk protein yield = 1.18 ± 0.13 kg/d; mean ± standard deviation) were selected for the experiment to derive RFI. After the RFI measurement period of 50 d, the 10 lowest RFI cows and 8 highest RFI cows were selected. The low RFI cows had lower dry matter intake (DMI, P < 0.05) than the high RFI cows, but they produced similar energy-corrected milk. The ratios of milk to DMI (1.41 vs. 1.24, P < 0.01) and energy-corrected milk to DMI (1.48 vs. 1.36, P < 0.01) were greater in low RFI cows than those in the high RFI cows. The low RFI cows had lower milk urea nitrogen than that in the high RFI cows (P = 0.05). Apparent digestibility of nutrients did not differ between two groups (P > 0.10). Compared with high RFI animals, the low RFI cows had a lower retention of N (5.72 vs. 51.4 g/d, P < 0.05) and a higher partition of feed N to milk N (29.7% vs. 26.5%, P < 0.05). Conclusions The results suggest that differences in N partition, synthesis of microbial protein, and utilization of metabolizable protein could be part of the mechanisms associated with variance in the RFI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyi Xie
- Institute of Dairy Science, MOE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 People's Republic of China
| | - Zezhong Wu
- Institute of Dairy Science, MOE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 People's Republic of China
| | - Diming Wang
- Institute of Dairy Science, MOE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 People's Republic of China
| | - Jianxin Liu
- Institute of Dairy Science, MOE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058 People's Republic of China
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20
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Fonseca LD, Eler JP, Pereira MA, Rosa AF, Alexandre PA, Moncau CT, Salvato F, Rosa-Fernandes L, Palmisano G, Ferraz JBS, Fukumasu H. Liver proteomics unravel the metabolic pathways related to Feed Efficiency in beef cattle. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5364. [PMID: 30926873 PMCID: PMC6441086 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41813-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Improving nutrient utilization efficiency is essential for livestock, given the current scenario of increasing demand for animal protein and sustainable resource use. In this context, understanding the biology of feed efficiency (FE) in beef cattle allows the development of markers for identification and selection of best animals for animal production. Thus, 98 young Nellore bulls were evaluated for FE and at the end of the experiment liver samples from six High Feed Efficient (HFE) and six Low Feed Efficient (LFE) animals were collected for protein extraction, digestion and analysis by HPLC-MS/MS. Data were analyzed for differential abundant proteins (DAPs), protein networks, and functional enrichment. Serum endotoxin was also quantified. We found 42 DAPs and 3 protein networks significantly related to FE. The main pathways associated with FE were: microbial metabolism; biosynthesis of fatty acids, amino acids and vitamins; glycolysis/gluconeogenesis; xenobiotic metabolism and; antigen processing and presentation. Serum endotoxins were significantly higher in LFE animals supporting the results. Therefore, the findings presented here confirmed the altered hepatic metabolism and pronounced hepatic inflammation in LFE animals supporting that the increased bacterial load is at least in part responsible for the hepatic lesions and inflammation in LFE animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leydiana D Fonseca
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Joanir P Eler
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Mikaele A Pereira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Alessandra F Rosa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Pâmela A Alexandre
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Cristina T Moncau
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Salvato
- Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, 13083-862, Brazil
| | - Livia Rosa-Fernandes
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Giuseppe Palmisano
- Department of Parasitology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil
| | - José B S Ferraz
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Heidge Fukumasu
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil.
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21
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D'Occhio MJ, Baruselli PS, Campanile G. Influence of nutrition, body condition, and metabolic status on reproduction in female beef cattle: A review. Theriogenology 2019; 125:277-284. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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