scholarly journals Correlation of Particular Bacterial PCR-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis Patterns with Bovine Ruminal Fermentation Parameters and Feed Efficiency Traits

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (19) ◽  
pp. 6338-6350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Hernandez-Sanabria ◽  
Le Luo Guan ◽  
Laksiri A. Goonewardene ◽  
Meiju Li ◽  
Denis F. Mujibi ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The influence of rumen microbial structure and functions on host physiology remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between the ruminal microflora and the host by correlating bacterial diversity with fermentation measurements and feed efficiency traits, including dry matter intake, feed conversion ratio, average daily gain, and residual feed intake, using culture-independent methods. Universal bacterial partial 16S rRNA gene products were amplified from ruminal fluid collected from 58 steers raised under a low-energy diet and were subjected to PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis was used to relate specific PCR-DGGE bands to various feed efficiency traits and metabolites. Analysis of volatile fatty acid profiles showed that butyrate was positively correlated with daily dry matter intake (P < 0.05) and tended to have higher concentration in inefficient animals (P = 0.10), while isovalerate was associated with residual feed intake (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that particular bacteria and their metabolism in the rumen may contribute to differences in host feed efficiency under a low-energy diet. This is the first study correlating PCR-DGGE bands representing specific bacteria to metabolites in the bovine rumen and to host feed efficiency traits.

2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (12) ◽  
pp. 3776-3786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mi Zhou ◽  
Emma Hernandez-Sanabria ◽  
Le Luo Guan

ABSTRACT Understanding ruminal methanogens is essential for greenhouse gas mitigation, as well as for improving animal performance in the livestock industry. It has been speculated that ruminal methanogenic diversity affects host feed efficiency and results in differences in methane production. This study examined methanogenic profiles in the rumen using culture-independent PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis for 56 beef cattle which differed in feed efficiency, as well as diet (the cattle were fed a low-energy diet or a high-energy diet). The methanogenic PCR-DGGE profiles detected were greatly affected by diet, and the major pattern changed from a community containing predominantly Methanobrevibacter ruminantium NT7 with the low-energy diet to a community containing predominantly Methanobrevibacter smithii, Methanobrevibacter sp. AbM4, and/or M. ruminantium NT7 with the high-energy diet. For each diet, the methanogenic PCR-DGGE pattern was strongly associated with the feed efficiency of the host. Diet-associated bands for Methanobrevibacter sp. AbM4 and M. smithii SM9 and a feed efficiency-related band for M. smithii PS were identified. The abundance of total methanogens was estimated by determining the numbers of copies of the 16S rRNA genes of methanogens. However, the size of the methanogen population did not correlate with differences in feed efficiency, diet, or metabolic measurements. Thus, the structure of the methanogenic community at the species or strain level may be more important for determining host feed efficiency under different dietary conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 474-475
Author(s):  
Taylor Lacey ◽  
Stephen Doyle ◽  
Kasey DeAtley

Abstract Recent advances in measuring feed intake improve selection for efficient beef bulls; however, such selection must not decrease bull fertility. Objectives herein were to determine the phenotypic relationship between feed efficiency and fertility traits in growing Angus (n = 14) and Red Angus (n = 14) bulls. Two feeding trials were conducted at the CSU, Chico University Farm in 2017 (87 d) and 2018 (84 d). Each year, bulls were randomly assigned to 7 x 18 m pens equipped with GrowSafe feed intake units and allowed ad libitum access to water and feed (CP: 15.6%, TDN: 56.22%, NDF: 52%, DM basis). Performance traits included: feed conversion ratio (FCR) and residual feed intake [RFI; measured as the difference between predicted dry matter intake (PDMI) and actual dry matter intake (DMI)], start weight (SWT), end weight (EWT), metabolic mid-weight (MMWT), residual gain and average daily gain (ADG). Breeding soundness exams (BSE) were conducted at 18 mo of age and included traits: scrotal circumference (SC), motility (MT), and morphology (MP). Residual feed intake was calculated by regressing DMI on ADG and MMWT. The RFI group was categorized as low (0.5 SD above the RFI mean), marginal (± 0.5 SD about the RFI mean), and high (0.5 SD above the RFI mean) by year. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, blocking on year-pen and fitting breed and RFI group as independent factors. Tukey pairwise contrasts were run. Motility among breeds and RFI group were analyzed using chi-square. Pearson correlations were calculated between growth, feed efficiency, and BSE measures of SC and MP. There were no differences (P &gt; 0.05) among breeds nor RFI groups for SWT, EWT, MMWT, residual gain, SC, and MT. No interaction was detected between breed and RFI group with exception of MP (P = 0.049); specifically, low RFI Red Angus bulls had poor MP compared to marginal and high RFI groups (66.94 ± 6.87 vs. 87.43 ± 3.77 and 93.74 ± 5.48 %, respectively). Angus bulls were superior to Red Angus bulls in ADG (1.23 ± 0.04 vs. 1.06 ± 0.05 kg/d; P = 0.01), FCR (7.98 ± 0.31 vs. 9.18 ± 0.38; P = 0.04), and RFI (-0.24 ± 0.09 vs. 0.09 ± 0.11 kg DMI/d; P = 0.04). High and marginal RFI groups had greater DMI compared to low RFI group (10.40 ± 0.26 and 9.64 ± 0.18 kg/d vs. 8.31 ± 0.32 kg/d; P &lt; 0.001). There were no significant phenotypic correlations between growth and efficiency measures with SC and MP (P &gt; 0.05). Cumulatively, results indicate that SC and MT were not affected in efficient bulls.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1157
Author(s):  
Kerry Houlahan ◽  
Flavio S. Schenkel ◽  
Dagnachew Hailemariam ◽  
Jan Lassen ◽  
Morten Kargo ◽  
...  

The inclusion of feed efficiency in the breeding goal for dairy cattle has been discussed for many years. The effects of incorporating feed efficiency into a selection index were assessed by indirect selection (dry matter intake) and direct selection (residual feed intake) using deterministic modeling. Both traits were investigated in three ways: (1) restricting the trait genetic gain to zero, (2) applying negative selection pressure, and (3) applying positive selection pressure. Changes in response to selection from economic and genetic gain perspectives were used to evaluate the impact of including feed efficiency with direct or indirect selection in an index. Improving feed efficiency through direct selection on residual feed intake was the best scenario analyzed, with the highest overall economic response including favorable responses to selection for production and feed efficiency. Over time, the response to selection is cumulative, with the potential for animals to reduce consumption by 0.16 kg to 2.7 kg of dry matter per day while maintaining production. As the selection pressure increased on residual feed intake, the response to selection for production, health, and fertility traits and body condition score became increasingly less favorable. This work provides insight into the potential long-term effects of selecting for feed efficiency as residual feed intake.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1822
Author(s):  
Cory T. Parsons ◽  
Julia M. Dafoe ◽  
Samuel A. Wyffels ◽  
Timothy DelCurto ◽  
Darrin L. Boss

We evaluated heifer post-weaning residual feed intake (RFI) classification and cow age on dry matter intake (DMI) at two stages of production. Fifty-nine non-lactating, pregnant, (Study 1) and fifty-four lactating, non-pregnant (Study 2) commercial black Angus beef cows were grouped by age and RFI. Free-choice, hay pellets were fed in a GrowSafe feeding system. In Study 1, cow DMI (kg/d) and intake rate (g/min) displayed a cow age effect (p < 0.01) with an increase in DMI and intake rate with increasing cow age. In Study 2, cow DMI (kg/d) and intake rate (g/min) displayed a cow age effect (p < 0.02) with an increase in DMI and intake rate with increasing cow age. Milk production displayed a cow age × RFI interaction (p < 0.01) where both 5–6-year-old and 8–9-year-old low RFI cows produced more milk than high RFI cows. For both studies, intake and intake behavior were not influenced by RFI (p ≥ 0.16) or cow age × RFI interaction (p ≥ 0.21). In summary, heifer’s post-weaning RFI had minimal effects on beef cattle DMI or intake behavior, however, some differences were observed in milk production.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. I. Velazco ◽  
R. M. Herd ◽  
D. J. Cottle ◽  
R. S. Hegarty

As daily methane production (DMP; g CH4/day) is strongly correlated with dry matter intake (DMI), the breeding of cattle that require less feed to achieve a desired rate of average daily gain (ADG) by selection for a low residual feed intake (RFI) can be expected to reduce DMP and also emission intensity (EI; g CH4/kg ADG). An experiment was conducted to compare DMP and EI of Angus cattle genetically divergent for RFI and 400-day weight (400dWT). In a 6-week grazing study, 64 yearling-age cattle (30 steers, 34 heifers) were grazed on temperate pastures, with heifers and steers grazing separate paddocks. Liveweight (LW) was monitored weekly and DMP of individual cattle was measured by a GreenFeed emission monitoring unit in each paddock. Thirty-nine of the possible 64 animals had emission data recorded for 15 or more days, and only data for these animals were analysed. For these cattle, regression against their mid-parent estimated breeding value (EBV) for post-weaning RFI (RFI-EBV) showed that a lower RFI-EBV was associated with higher LW at the start of experiment. Predicted dry matter intake (pDMI), predicted DMP (pDMP) and measured DMP (mDMP) were all negatively correlated with RFI-EBV (P < 0.05), whereas ADG, EI, predicted CH4 yield (pMY; g CH4/kg DMI) were not correlated with RFI-EBV (P > 0.1). Daily CH4 production was positively correlated with animal LW and ADG (P < 0.05). The associations between ADG and its dependent traits EI and pMY and predicted feed conversion ratio (kg pDMI/kg ADG) were strongly negative (r = –0.82, –0.57 and –0.85, P < 0.001) implying that faster daily growth by cattle was accompanied by lower EI, MY and feed conversion ratio. These results show that cattle genetically divergent for RFI do not necessarily differ in ADG, EI or pMY on pasture and that, if heavier, cattle with lower RFI-EBV can actually have higher DMP while grazing moderate quality pastures.


Author(s):  
Dagnachew Hailemariam ◽  
Ghader Manafiazar ◽  
John A. Basarab ◽  
Paul Stothard ◽  
Filippo Miglior ◽  
...  

This study compared the different residual feed intake (RFI) categories of lactating Holsteins with respect to methane emission, dry matter intake (kg), milk somatic cell count (SCC, 103/mL) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB, mmol/L). RFI was calculated in 131 lactating Holstein cows that were then categorized into –RFI (RFI<0) vs. +RFI (RFI>0) and low (RFI<-0.5 SD) vs. high RFI (RFI>0.5 SD) groups. Milk traits were recorded in 131 cows while CH4 and CO2 were measured in 83. Comparisons of –RFI vs. +RFI and low vs. high RFI showed 7.8% (22.3±0.40 vs. 24.2±0.39) and 12.9% (21.1±0.40 vs. 24.2±0.45) decrease (P<0.05) in DMI of –RFI and low RFI groups, respectively. Similarly, –RFI and low RFI cows had lower (P<0.05) CH4 (g/d) by 9.7% (343.5±11.1 vs. 380.4±10.9) and 15.5% (332.5±12.9 vs. 393.5±12.6) respectively. Milk yield was not different (P>0.05) in –RFI vs. +RFI and low vs. high comparisons. The –RFI and low RFI cows had lower (P<0.05) SCC in –RFI vs. +RFI and low RFI vs. high RFI comparisons. BHB was lower (P<0.05) in low RFI compared to the high RFI group. Low RFI dairy cows consumed less feed, emitted less methane (g/d), and had lower milk SCC and BHB without differing in milk yield.


2019 ◽  
Vol 102 (8) ◽  
pp. 7248-7262 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Negussie ◽  
T. Mehtiö ◽  
P. Mäntysaari ◽  
P. Løvendahl ◽  
E.A. Mäntysaari ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 2645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raizza Fátima Abadia Tulux Rocha ◽  
Andréa Roberto Duarte Lopes Souza ◽  
Maria Da Graça Morais ◽  
Mayara Mitiko Yoshihara Carneiro ◽  
Henrique Jorge Fernandes ◽  
...  

This study aimed to assess the performance, carcass traits, and non-carcass components of feedlot finished Texel crossbred lambs from different residual feed intake classes (RFI). Forty-seven uncastrated male Texel crossbred lambs (¾ Texel + ¼ Pantaneira) tested here were 4-month-old with an initial weight of 29.9 ± 5.5 kg. The lambs were confined for 70 days for individual dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG) assessment. The diet containing corn silage was provided as roughage, while the concentrate consisted of corn grain, soybean meal, urea, and mineral mixture with a 40:60 roughage to concentrate ratio and 76.34% total digestible nutrients (TDN). After confinement for 70 days, the lambs were slaughtered to assess carcass traits and non-carcass components. Based on the RFI, lambs were divided into three classes according to the standard deviation (sd): Positive RFI (inefficient, 0.5 above the mean), Negative RFI (efficient, 0.5 below the mean), and Medium RFI (intermediate). Classes with Negative (efficient) and Positive RFI (inefficient) showed no differences in ADG (0.321 vs 0.306 kg; P > 0.05). Dry matter intake (g d-1), and percentage of body weight (BW) differed significantly between the RFI classes (P < 0.05). Compared to lambs in the inefficient class, those in the efficient class (Negative RFI) showed a 9% reduction in DMI and had the same ADG. The lambs in either Positive or Negative RFI classes showed no weight differences between non-carcass components (P > 0.05). The RFI classes showed no differences in shrunk body weight, hot carcass weight, hot dressing, and weight of commercial cuts (P > 0.05). They showed no differences in neck, shoulder + shank, loin, rack, flank steak, rack cap off, and leg weights (P > 0.05). Our results indicate that improvement in feed efficiency, as a function of the RFI index, does not compromise performance and carcass traits of Texel crossbred lambs.


1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 413-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kay ◽  
N. A. MacLeod ◽  
Margaret McLaren

SUMMARY1. A growth and digestibility trial was carried out with 27 British Friesian calves given diets having either 3·1, 2·8 or 2·4 Meal metabolizable energy per kg dry matter and either the same concentration of protein or the same protein-to-energy ratio.2. Daily dry-matter intake and rate of gain in live weight increased significantly as the energy concentration of the diet was reduced. There were no significant differences in digestible-energy intake between calves given the different diets, although the trend was the same as for dry-matter intake.3. Both dry-matter digestibility and energy digestibility were lowest for the low-energy diet.


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