1
|
Keogh K, McGee M, Kenny DA. Effect of breed and dietary composition on the miRNA profile of beef steers divergent for feed efficiency. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20046. [PMID: 39209905 PMCID: PMC11362461 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70669-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Identifying and breeding cattle that are more feed efficient is of great benefit to beef production. Additionally, it is crucial that genes contributing to feed efficiency are robust across varying management settings including dietary source as well as being relevant across contrasting breeds of cattle. The aim of this study was to determine miRNAs that are contributing to the expression of residual feed intake (RFI) across two breeds and dietary sources. miRNA profiling was undertaken in Longissimus dorsi tissue of Charolais and Holstein-Friesian steers divergent for RFI phenotype following two contrasting consecutive diets (high-forage and high-concentrate). Ten miRNA were identified as differentially expressed (adj. P < 0.1) across the breed and diet contrasts examined. Of particular interest was the differential expression of miR-2419-5p and miR-2415-3p, both of which were up-regulated in the Low-RFI Charolais steers across each dietary phase. Pathway analysis of target mRNA genes of differentially expressed miRNA revealed enrichment (P < 0.05) for pathways including metabolic related pathways, insulin receptor signalling, adipogenesis as well as pathways related to skeletal muscle growth. These results provide insight into the skeletal muscle miRNAome of beef cattle and their potential molecular regulatory mechanisms relating to feed efficiency in beef cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Keogh
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
| | - M McGee
- Livestock Systems Research Department, Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - D A Kenny
- Animal and Bioscience Research Department, Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Invited Review: Genetic decision tools for increasing cow efficiency and sustainability in forage-based beef systems. APPLIED ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.15232/aas.2022-02306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
3
|
Foroutan A, Wishart DS, Fitzsimmons C. Exploring Biological Impacts of Prenatal Nutrition and Selection for Residual Feed Intake on Beef Cattle Using Omics Technologies: A Review. Front Genet 2021; 12:720268. [PMID: 34790219 PMCID: PMC8592258 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.720268] [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: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 70% of the cost of beef production is impacted by dietary intake. Maximizing production efficiency of beef cattle requires not only genetic selection to maximize feed efficiency (i.e., residual feed intake (RFI)), but also adequate nutrition throughout all stages of growth and development to maximize efficiency of growth and reproductive capacity, even during gestation. RFI as a measure of feed efficiency in cattle has been recently accepted and used in the beef industry, but the effect of selection for RFI upon the dynamics of gestation has not been extensively studied, especially in the context of fluctuating energy supply to the dam and fetus. Nutrient restriction during gestation has been shown to negatively affect postnatal growth and development as well as fertility of beef cattle offspring. This, when combined with the genetic potential for RFI, may significantly affect energy partitioning in the offspring and subsequently important performance traits. In this review, we discuss: 1) the importance of RFI as a measure of feed efficiency and how it can affect other economic traits in beef cattle; 2) the influence of prenatal nutrition on physiological phenotypes in calves; 3) the benefits of investigating the interaction of genetic selection for RFI and prenatal nutrition; 4) how metabolomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics have been employed to investigate the underlying biology associated with prenatal nutrition, RFI, or their interactions in beef cattle; and 5) how the integration of omics information is adding a level of deeper understanding of the genetic architecture of phenotypic traits in cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aidin Foroutan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - David S. Wishart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Carolyn Fitzsimmons
- Department of Agricultural Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sakamoto LS, Souza LL, Gianvecchio SB, de Oliveira MHV, Silva JAIIDV, Canesin RC, Branco RH, Baccan M, Berndt A, de Albuquerque LG, Mercadante MEZ. Phenotypic association among performance, feed efficiency and methane emission traits in Nellore cattle. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257964. [PMID: 34648502 PMCID: PMC8516271 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteric methane (CH4) emissions are a natural process in ruminants and can result in up to 12% of energy losses. Hence, decreasing enteric CH4 production constitutes an important step towards improving the feed efficiency of Brazilian cattle herds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between performance, residual feed intake (RFI), and enteric CH4 emission in growing Nellore cattle (Bos indicus). Performance, RFI and CH4 emission data were obtained from 489 animals participating in selection programs (mid-test age and body weight: 414±159 days and 356±135 kg, respectively) that were evaluated in 12 performance tests carried out in individual pens (n = 95) or collective paddocks (n = 394) equipped with electronic feed bunks. The sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas technique was used to measure daily CH4 emissions. The following variables were estimated: CH4 emission rate (g/day), residual methane emission and emission expressed per mid-test body weight, metabolic body weight, dry matter intake (CH4/DMI), average daily gain, and ingested gross energy (CH4/GE). Animals classified as negative RFI (RFI<0), i.e., more efficient animals, consumed less dry matter (P <0.0001) and emitted less g CH4/day (P = 0.0022) than positive RFI animals (RFI>0). Nonetheless, more efficient animals emitted more CH4/DMI and CH4/GE (P < 0.0001), suggesting that the difference in daily intake between animals is a determinant factor for the difference in daily enteric CH4 emissions. In addition, animals classified as negative RFI emitted less CH4 per kg mid-test weight and metabolic weight (P = 0.0096 and P = 0.0033, respectively), i.e., most efficient animals could emit less CH4 per kg of carcass. In conclusion, more efficient animals produced less methane when expressed as g/day and per kg mid-test weight than less efficient animals, suggesting lower emissions per kg of carcass produced. However, it is not possible to state that feed efficiency has a direct effect on enteric CH4 emissions since emissions per kg of consumed dry matter and the percentage of gross energy lost as CH4 are higher for more efficient animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Luana Lelis Souza
- Institute of Animal Science, Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, SP, Brazil
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Renata Helena Branco
- Institute of Animal Science, Beef Cattle Research Center, Sertãozinho, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque
- São Paulo State University (Unesp), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
O’ Connor E, McHugh N, Boland TM, Dunne E, McGovern FM. Investigation of intra-day variability of gaseous measurements in sheep using portable accumulation chambers. J Anim Sci 2021; 99:skab132. [PMID: 34417802 PMCID: PMC8379718 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skab132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Portable accumulation chambers (PAC) enable short-term spot measurements of gaseous emissions including methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2), and oxygen (O2) consumption from small ruminants. To date the differences in morning and evening gaseous measurements in the PAC have not been investigated. The objectives of this study were to investigate: 1) the optimal measurement time in the PAC, 2) the appropriate method of accounting for the animal's size when calculating the animal's gaseous output, and 3) the intra-day variability of gaseous measurements. A total of 12 ewe lambs (c. 10 to 11 months of age) were randomly selected each day from a cohort of 48 animals over nine consecutive days. Methane emissions from the 12 lambs were measured in 12 PAC during two measurement runs daily, AM (8 to 10 h) and PM (14 to 16 h). Animals were removed from Perennial ryegrass silage for at least 1 h prior to measurements in the PAC and animals were assigned randomly to each of the 12 chambers. Methane (ppm) concentration, O2 and CO2 percentage were measured at 5 time points (T1 = 0.0 min, T2 = 12.5 min, T3 = 25.0 min, T4 = 37.5 min, and T5 = 50.0 min from entry of the first animal into the first chamber) using an Eagle 2 monitor. The correlation between time points T5-T1 (i.e., 50 min minus 0 min after entry of the animal to the chamber) and T4-T1 was 0.95, 0.92, and 0.77 for CH4, O2, and CO2, respectively (P < 0.01). The correlation between CH4 and CO2 output and O2 consumption, calculated with live-weight and with body volume was 0.99 (P < 0.001). The correlation between the PAC measurement recorded on the same animal in the AM and PM measurement runs was 0.73. Factors associated with CH4 production included: day and time of measurement, the live-weight of the animal and the hourly relative humidity. Results from this study suggest that the optimal time for measuring an animal's gaseous output in the PAC is 50 min, that live-weight should be used in the calculation of gaseous output from an animal and that the measurement of an animal's gaseous emissions in either the AM or PM does not impact on the ranking of animals when gaseous emissions are measured using the feeding and measurement protocol outlined in the present study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edel O’ Connor
- Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Nóirín McHugh
- Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland
| | - Tommy M Boland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Eoin Dunne
- Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland
| | - Fiona M McGovern
- Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Manafiazar G, Fitzsimmons C, Zhou M, Basarab JA, Baron VS, McKeown L, Guan LL. Association between fecal methanogen species with methane production and grazed forage intake of beef heifers classified for residual feed intake under drylot conditions. Animal 2021; 15:100304. [PMID: 34245954 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2021.100304] [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: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reduction in greenhouse gas emission from beef production is essential to the survival of the beef industry from environmental and social-economic perspectives. There are different systems available to measure methane from animals, but they are expensive, not easily accessible, and not suitable for large-scale methane measurements on the farm. Therefore exploring indicator traits, which are easy to measure, cost-effective, and suitable for large-scale measurement, are recommended. The objectives of this study were to examine the diversity of fecal methanogen profile among efficient and inefficient beef heifers on pasture and investigate methanogen profile as a possible proxy to predict methane emission in beef cattle consuming a forage diet. Forty pregnant (1st trimester) heifers previously classified for postweaning residual feed intake adjusted for off-test back fat (RFIfat; 20 high and 20 low) were included in this study. To determine individual pasture grazing intake, heifers were dosed with 1 kg of C32 labeled pellets once per day from Day 0 to Day 12, and fecal samples were collected twice daily from Day 8 to Day 15. Fecal samples from Days 8, 10, and 12 were analyzed for their methanogen profile. Animals were monitored individually for methane and carbon dioxide production using a GreenFeed Emissions Monitoring system. Total methanogen population and methanogenic community diversity of fecal samples were not different (P > 0.1) between low and high RFIfat groups, as measured by quantitative PCR and α- and β-diversity indices. However, both groups had a different methanogen profile; the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter wolinii and relatives were higher (P < 0.002), while that of Methanosphaera species ISO3-F5 was lower (P < 0.01) in low RFIfat cattle compared to the high RFIfat group. We also demonstrated that fecal methanogen profiles may be a useful proxy in predicting daily methane and carbon dioxide emissions with an adjusted R2 of 0.53 and 0.33, respectively, for low RFIfat heifers and 0.46 and 0.57, respectively, for the high RFIfat group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Manafiazar
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - C Fitzsimmons
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research and Development Centre, 6000 C & E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada.
| | - M Zhou
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - J A Basarab
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - V S Baron
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research and Development Centre, 6000 C & E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada
| | - L McKeown
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - L L Guan
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Manafiazar G, Flesch T, Baron V, McKeown L, Byron B, Block H, Ominski K, Plastow G, Basarab J. Methane and carbon dioxide emissions and grazed forage intake from pregnant beef heifers previously classified for residual feed intake under drylot conditions. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjas-2019-0182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to quantify the effect of post-weaning residual feed intake (RFI) on subsequent grazed forage intake, methane (CH4), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Beef heifers classified for RFI adjusted for off-test backfat (RFIfat; 55 high and 56 low) at 9 mo of age were monitored 7 mo later for CH4 and CO2 emissions using the GreenFeed Emissions Monitoring system. About 56 of these heifers were also monitored as high and low RFIfat groups using open-path Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (OP-FTIR). Heifers were dosed with 1 kg of C32-labelled pellets once daily for 15 d, with twice daily fecal sampling the last 8 d to determine individual grazed forage intake using the n-alkane method. Low RFIfat pregnant heifers consumed less forage (10.25 vs. 10.81 kg dry matter d−1; P < 0.001), and emitted less daily CH4 (238.7 vs. 250.7 g d−1; P = 0.009) and CO2 (7578 vs. 8041 g d−1; P < 0.001) compared with high RFIfat animals. Results from the OP-FTIR further confirmed that low RFIfat heifers emitted 6.3% less (g d−1; P = 0.006) CH4 compared with their high RFIfat cohorts. Thus, selection for low RFIfat will decrease daily CH4 and CO2 emissions from beef cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G. Manafiazar
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - T.K. Flesch
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6E 2H4, Canada
| | - V.S. Baron
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research and Development Centre, 6000 C&E Trail, Lacombe, AB T4L 1W1, Canada
| | - L. McKeown
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lacombe Research and Development Centre, 6000 C&E Trail, Lacombe, AB T4L 1W1, Canada
| | - B. Byron
- Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - H. Block
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research and Development Centre, 6000 C&E Trail, Lacombe, AB T4L 1W1, Canada
| | - K. Ominski
- Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - G. Plastow
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - J.A. Basarab
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lacombe Research and Development Centre, 6000 C&E Trail, Lacombe, AB T4L 1W1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|