scholarly journals The relationship between the rumen microbiome and carcass merit in Angus steers

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taylor R Krause ◽  
Jeferson M Lourenco ◽  
Christina B Welch ◽  
Michael J Rothrock ◽  
Todd R Callaway ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to explore the relationships between ruminal microbial populations from Angus steers that were divergent in carcass traits related to adipose accumulation. Twenty-four feedlot-finished Angus steers (age: 538 ± 21 d; body weight following lairage: 593.9 ± 43.7 kg) were slaughtered, and ruminal contents and carcass data were collected. Ruminal microbial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction and 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequencing were performed to determine microbial relative abundances, to estimate microbial diversity, and to predict microbial metabolic pathways. A variety of correlation analyses and one-way ANOVA were performed to investigate the relationships between the rumen microbiome and carcass traits. Marbling score (P = 0.001) and longissimus lipid content (P = 0.009) were positively correlated to Chao1 Richness Index, suggesting that increased intramuscular fat was associated with increased numbers of ruminal microbial species. The phyla Tenericutes and TM7 were negatively correlated (P ≤ 0.05) to marbling score and longissimus lipid content, indicating that lower abundances of these phyla may be associated with improvements in intramuscular fat content. Greater abundance of the bacterial family S24-7 was positively correlated (P = 0.002) to marbling score. Analysis by marbling classification revealed further linkages to microbial richness (P ≤ 0.063), diversity (P = 0.044), and S24-7 (P < 0.001) populations. Computational prediction of the microbial metabolic pathways revealed no differences (P ≥ 0.05) in metabolic pathway expression in rumen microbes between steers in the high- and low-marbling classes. Several phyla, families, and genera were positively correlated (P ≤ 0.05) to both rib fat thickness and yield grade. Collectively, our results suggest that microbial composition is associated to differing performance in carcass adipose traits. Overall, most of the bacterial taxa correlated to the intramuscular and subcutaneous fat depots did not overlap, suggesting the microbial population end products likely impacted adipose accumulation largely via separate adipogenic pathways of the host animal.

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Crews ◽  
Jr., M. Lowerison ◽  
N. Caron ◽  
R. A. Kemp

Genetic parameters for three growth and five carcass traits were estimated for Charolais using a combination of carcass progeny test, purebred field performance and pedigree data. Heritabilities and genetic and residual correlations were derived from variance components for birth weight (BWT, n = 54 221), 205-d weaning weight (WT205, n = 31 384), postweaning gain (PWG, n = 19 403), hot carcass weight (HCW, n = 6958), average subcutaneous fat thickness (FAT, n = 6866), longissimus muscle area (REA, n = 6863), marbling score (MAR, n = 6903) and estimated carcass lean yield percentage (PLY, n = 6852) with an animal model (n = 78 728) and restricted maximum likelihood. Breed of dam and contemporary group appropriate to each trait were included as fixed effects in the model, whereas random effects included direct genetic for all traits, maternal genetic for BWT and WT205, and maternal permanent environmental for WT205. Carcass traits were adjusted to a constant harvest age of 425 d. Heritability estimates of 0.53, 0.22, and 0.21 were obtained for direct components of BWT, WT205, and PWG, respectively, and maternal heritabilities were 0.16 and 0.10 for BWT and WT205, respectively. Direct × maternal genetic correlations for BWT (-0.49) and WT205 (-0.35) were negative. Heritabilities for HCW, FAT, REA, MAR, and PLY were 0.33, 0.39, 0.43, 0.34, and 0.46, respectively. Genetic correlations among direct effects for growth traits were moderately positive and generally uncorrelated with maternal effects across traits. Lean and fat deposition in the carcass generally had negative, unfavorable genetic correlations, although improvement in lean yield and marbling score may not be strongly antagonistic. Genetic correlations of direct and maternal components of growth traits with carcass traits suggested that selection for increased growth rate would not be antagonistic to improvement in carcass yield or meat quality. Key words: Carcass, Charolais, correlation, genetic parameters, growth


2000 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Oikawa ◽  
T. Sanehira ◽  
K. Sato ◽  
Y. Mizoguchi ◽  
H. Yamamoto ◽  
...  

AbstractRestricted maximum likelihood analyses fitting an animal model were conducted to estimate genetic parameters with a pooled-data set of performance tests (growth traits and food intake) on 661 bulls and progeny tests (growth traits and carcass traits) on 535 steers. Traits studied included concentrate intake (CONC), roughage intake (ROU), TDN conversion (TCNV), TDN intake (TINT) of bulls; rib eye area (REA), marbling score (MARB), dressing proportion (DRES) and subcutaneous fat depth (SCF) of steers. Body weight at start (BWS), body weight at finish (BWF) and average daily gain (ADG) of all animals were measured. Estimated heritabilities were 0·18 (CONC), 0·71 (ROU), 0·11 (TCNV) and 0·36 (TINT); 0·02 (REA), 0·49 (MARB), 0·15 (DRES), 0·15 (SCF), and from 0·20 to 0·38 for growth traits. Genetic correlations of ROU were different from those of CONC, probably due to inconsistent restrictions on concentrate intake; those of TINT with the weights, ADG and SCF were high. MARB showed positive genetic correlations with growth traits and low correlations with TINT and SCF. High potentiality for improvement of marbling score was suggested.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ann Jensen ◽  
Zachary Jackson ◽  
Jonathan Alan Young ◽  
Jaycie Kuhn ◽  
Maria Onusko ◽  
...  

Abstract Emerging evidence proposes that the gut microbiome has an vital role in host growth, metabolism and endocrinology. That is, gut microbes impact growth by potentially altering the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis. Our previous research has also shown that GH - in states of absence and excess - is associated with altered gut microbial composition, maturity and predictive metabolic function in mice. Moreover, both GH and the gut microbiome are implicated in development and aging. Yet, it is unknown how GH impacts the longitudinal microbiome. This study thus aimed to characterize the longitudinal changes in the gut microbial profile of bovine GH transgenic mice (a model of chronic, excess GH action and accelerated aging). Microbial composition was quantified from fecal pellets of the same bGH and control mice at 3, 6 and 12 months of age through 16S rRNA gene sequencing and QIIME 2. Additional bioinformatic analyses assessed the unique signature and predictive metabolic function of the microbiome. The bGH mice had a distinct microbial profile compared to controls longitudinally. At 3 months, bGH mice had increased Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, decreased Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Campylobacterota, and a significant reduction in microbial richness and evenness. By 6 months, all of the aforesaid phyla were increased with the exception of Firmicutes. By 12 months, bGH mice exhibited dysbiosis with increased Firmicutes and Proteobacteria and reduced Bacteroidetes, microbial richness and evenness. Moreover, abundance in Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Campylobacterota were significantly explained by the combined effect of genotype and age (p = 0.006, 0.005 and 0.02, respectively). Across all timepoints, bGH mice had a significantly different microbiome compared to controls (p = 0.002), and the development of microbial richness and evenness were also significantly different in bGH mice (p = 0.034 and 0.023). Bacterial genera Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae were identified as a unique candidates in bGH mice across all timepoints. Likewise, metabolic pathways involved in biosynthesis of heme b, menaquinol, acetate and butyrate differentiated the longitudinal bGH microbiome. Collectively, these results show that chronic, excess GH impacts the development and aging of the gut microbiome. Notably, several of the stated bacterial genera and metabolic pathways were associated with GH in our previous study, suggesting that GH may influence the longitudinal presence of certain gut microbes and metabolic functions. Additional studies will be performed to further explore the GH-associated gut microbiome and its impact on host health. Research was partially funded by the John J. Kopchick MCB/TBS Fellowship, a fellowship from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation and the MMPC at UC, Davis (NIH grant U240DK092993).


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jade E. Kenna ◽  
Eng Guan Chua ◽  
Megan Bakeberg ◽  
Alfred Tay ◽  
Sarah McGregor ◽  
...  

Background: There has been increasing recognition of the importance of the gut microbiome in Parkinson’s disease (PD), but the influence of geographic location has received little attention. The present study characterized the gut microbiota and associated changes in host metabolic pathways in an Australian cohort of people with PD (PwP).Methods: The study involved recruitment and assessment of 87 PwP from multiple Movement Disorders Clinics in Australia and 47 healthy controls. Illumina sequencing of the V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene was used to distinguish inter-cohort differences in gut microbiota; KEGG analysis was subsequently performed to predict functional changes in host metabolic pathways.Results: The current findings identified significant differences in relative abundance and diversity of microbial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), and specific bacterial taxa between PwP and control groups. Alpha diversity was significantly reduced in PwP when compared to controls. Differences were found in two phyla (Synergistetes and Proteobacteria; both increased in PwP), and five genera (Colidextribacter, Intestinibacter, Kineothrix, Agathobaculum, and Roseburia; all decreased in PwP). Within the PD cohort, there was no association identified between microbial composition and gender, constipation or use of gastrointestinal medication. Furthermore, KEGG analysis identified 15 upregulated and 11 downregulated metabolic pathways which were predicted to be significantly altered in PwP.Conclusion: This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of the gut microbiome and predicted functional metabolic effects in a southern hemisphere PD population, further exploring the possible mechanisms whereby the gut microbiota may exert their influence on this disease, and providing evidence for the incorporation of such data in future individualized therapeutic strategies.


1972 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
HR Johnson ◽  
RM Butterfield ◽  
WJ Pryor

(1) Total side fat (total dissected fat plus intramuscular fat) was examined in 23 bovine carcasses in four weight ranges. (2) The partition of fatty tissue between five depots revealed relative rises in intermuscular and subcutaneous depots and relative declines in intramuscular, kidney, and channel fats with increasing carcass weight. (3) Intermuscular and subcutaneous fats reached high levels relative to total side fat at different stages. Intermuscular fat rose quickly to c. 45.0% of total side fat at about 2.0 kg total side fat (c. 56 days) whilst subcutaneous fat reached 29.0% at c. 13.0 kg total side fat (c. 270 days). (4) Intramuscular fat did not show an increase relative to total side fat as carcass weight increased. Its contribution to total fat was greatest in the lightest sides and reached a minimal value at c. 13.0 kg total side fat, which it maintained thereafter. (5) All regressions of the weight of five fat depots on total side fat were highly significant (P < 0.01). (6) There appears to be a need for precise definition of fat distribution patterns in breeds and strains of cattle in order that carcasses of optimum composition might be produced.


1977 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Davies ◽  
W. J. Pryor

SummaryThe subcutaneous, intermuscular and cavity fat depots of the half carcasses of 15 Large White × Landrace castrated male pigs, forming a growth series from 8 to 62 kg live weight, were dissected. Seventy individual muscles of these pigs were analysed for intramuscular fat content. The growth rates of each of the four fat depots, relative to total fat, were similar. Subcutaneous fat was the predominant fat depot over the growth range studied. Both intramuscular fat and non-fat dry matter grew faster than the entire muscles containing them. Growth gradients for the intramuscular fat of muscle groups, relative to either total intramuscular fat or to total fat, were similar to those for the entire muscles. The growth gradients for muscle groups were affected by neither the growth of the contained intramuscular fat nor the contained non-fat dry matter. Intramuscular fat density, but not non-fat dry-matter density, varied throughout the carcass. The fat content of muscles was highest in those that could be useful as subcutaneous insulators.


1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (68) ◽  
pp. 281 ◽  
Author(s):  
RF Thornton ◽  
FD Shaw ◽  
RL Hood

The degree of marbling and the thickness of subcutaneous fat at the 10th rib cut of the M. longissimus was studied in three groups of 450 kg Santa Gertrudis crossbred and Hereford steers fattened for 120 days on three grain-based diets in a commercial feedlot. Mean cold carcase weight was 311 kg for each breed of steer and differed by only 4 kg for each dietary treatment. The percentage intramuscular fat was similar for the two breeds of cattle but subcutaneous fat thickness was 25 per cent greater in the Herefords than in the Santa Gertrudis crossbreds. Visual marbling score was well correlated (r = 0.81) with the percentage intramuscular fat. Intramuscular adipocyte size was much less than subcutaneous adipocyte size and the Santa Gertrudis crossbreds tended to have larger subcutaneous adipocytes than the Herefords. These findings are discussed in relation to the differences between breeds of cattle in the rate of deposition and the distribution of carcase fat and the production of highly-marbled beef.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 712
Author(s):  
Minseok Kim ◽  
Tansol Park ◽  
Jin Young Jeong ◽  
Youlchang Baek ◽  
Hyun-Jeong Lee

This study demonstrated the potential effects of the rumen microbiota on the deposition of intramuscular fat, known as marbling. Previous studies on fatty acid metabolism in beef cattle have mostly focused on biohydrogenating rumen bacteria, whereas those on the overall rumen microbiota—to understand their roles in marbling—have not been systematically performed. The rumen microbiota of 14 Korean beef cattle (Hanwoo), which showed similar carcass characteristics and blood metabolites but different marbling scores, were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The rumen samples were grouped into two extreme marbling score groups of host animals as follows: LMS, marbling score≤ 4 or HMS, marbling score ≥7. Species richness tended to be higher in the HMS group, whereas the overall microbiota differed between LMS and HMS groups. RFP12, Verrucomicrobia, Oscillospira, Porphyromonadaceae, and Paludibacter were differentially abundant in the HMS group, whereas Olsenella was abundant in the LMS group. Some marbling-associated bacterial taxa also contributed to the enrichment of two lipid metabolic pathways including “alpha-linolenic acid metabolism” and “fatty acid biosynthesis” in the HMS microbiome. Taxonomic drivers of fatty acid biosynthesis, particularly in the rumen microbiome of high-marbled meat, could thus be further studied to increase the intramuscular fat content.


1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Sañudo ◽  
I. Sierra ◽  
J. L. Olleta ◽  
L. Martin ◽  
M. M. Campo ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of weaning and sex on various aspects of production and quality characteristics in 22 male and 18 female lambs of the Rasa Aragonesa local meat breed. Half the lambs were weaned (W) at 38 to 40 days and half were left unwearied (UW). Both groups were given ad libitum concentrates and cereal straw. Average farm weight was 22·1 kg at 78·3 days. Live-weight gain was significantly different between sexes but not between W and UW lambs. Dressing proportion was higher in UW lambs. Significant differences in fatness were found between W and UW lambs and between sex of lambs. Among the meat quality traits, W lambs had redder and UW lambs paler meat judged by colour a* and haem pigment concentration. No statistical differences were found in the other traits except flavour intensity, which was higher in UW (66·8) than in W (63·6) lambs on a 1 to 100 scale. All other eating quality aspects, in grilled m. longissimus lumborum slices, tended to be higher in UW lambs. The fatty acid composition of subcutaneous and intramuscular fat depots differed significantly (intramuscular fat was more unsaturated and polyunsaturated). There were also differences between W and UW lambs in subcutaneous fat (higher unsaturated in W lambs). However in intramuscular fat composition only differences in polyunsaturated fatty acids (higher in UW lambs), but not in total unsaturated or saturated, were observed. Tatty acids of less than C16 chain length were higher, in both fat depots, in UW lambs than in W lambs reflecting greater incorporation of milk fatty acids. Palatability characteristics were not closely associated with fatty acid composition except that flavour intensity was correlated with total saturated fatty acids.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pan Zhang ◽  
Qinggang Li ◽  
Yijing Wu ◽  
Yawen Zhang ◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Subcutaneous fat and intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition are closely related to meat production and pork quality. The Dingyuan pig is a local pig breed in Anhui Province, China, that has great potential for fat deposition. Individuals with extreme subcutaneous fat and intramuscular fat content can be found in this breed, which provides a good study system for investigating the molecular mechanisms regulating these two types of fat deposit.Results: In this study, we used RNA-Seq and tandem mass tags-based proteomics to analyze the key pathways and genes that specifically regulate subcutaneous fat and intramuscular fat deposition in Dingyuan pigs. We identified 191 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 61 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in the high backfat thickness (HBF) and low backfat thickness (LBF) groups. In the high intramuscular fat and low intramuscular fat groups, we found 85 DEGs and 12 DAPs. The gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs and DAPs in the backfat groups were mainly involved in various metabolic pathways, such as those related to carbohydrates, amino acids, esters, and fatty acids, whereas the DEGs and DAPs of the IMF groups were involved in a wide range of signaling pathways, including metabolic pathways, the insulin pathway, ketone body synthesis and degradation, longevity, and some disease-related pathways. Among the genes related to the metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, amino acids, esters, and fatty acids, we found 26 candidate genes that specifically regulate subcutaneous fat deposition and 7 genes that specifically regulate IMF deposition in Dingyuan pigs.Conclusion: Our data show that subcutaneous fat deposition and IMF deposition are regulated by the same genes, but there are also genes that specifically regulate these two fat depositions. Our data provide insights into the mechanisms of pig fat deposition.


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