scholarly journals Specific rumen microbiome traits predict average daily gain in beef cattle under different backgrounding systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bobwealth O. Omontese ◽  
Ashok K. Sharma ◽  
Samuel Davison ◽  
Emily Jacobson ◽  
Megan J. Webb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Bacterial Community Composition ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Feedlot Performance ◽  
Bacterial Gene ◽  
Rumen Microbiome ◽  
Daily Gain

Abstract Background Backgrounding (BKG), the stage between weaning and finishing, significantly impacts feedlot performance in beef cattle; however, the contributions of the rumen microbiome to this growth stage remain unexplored. A longitudinal study was designed to assess how BKG affects rumen bacterial communities and average daily gain (ADG) in beef cattle. At weaning, 38 calves were randomly assigned to three BKG systems for 55 days (d): a high roughage diet within a dry lot ( DL, n=13); annual cover crop within a strip plot ( CC, n=13); and perennial pasture vegetation within rotational paddocks ( PP, n=12), as before weaning. After BKG, all calves were placed in a feedlot for 142 d and finished with a high energy ration. Calves were weighed periodically from weaning to finishing to determine ADG. Rumen bacterial communities were profiled by collecting fluid samples via oral probe and sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene, at weaning, during BKG and finishing.Results Rumen bacterial communities diverged drastically among calves once they were placed in each BKG system, including sharp decreases in alpha diversity for CC and DL calves only ( P < 0.001). During BKG, DL calves showed a substantial increase of Proteobacteria, Succinivibrionaceae family ( Ruminobacter, Succinimonas ) (P<0.001), which also corresponded with greater ADG ( P < 0.05). At the finishing stage, alpha diversity decreased dramatically and Proteobacteria bloomed for all calves, with no previous alpha or beta diversity differences being retained between groups. However, at finishing, PP calves showed compensatory ADG, particularly greater than that in calves coming from DL BKG, who showed the lowest ADG ( P = 0.02). Microbe network dynamics and network traits related to centrality, connectivity, degree, number and strength of microbe-microbe interactions in the rumen were predictive of ADG during BKG and finishing.Conclusions Assessing rumen bacterial community composition, and particularly microbemicrobe interactions under different BKG systems may be useful in predicting growth performance in beef cattle. These findings underscore the importance of early post weaning stages as potential targets for feeding interventions that can modulate the rumen microbiome to enhance life-long productive performance in beef cattle.

PSX-A-22 Late-Breaking: Rumen microbiome composition and microbe network dynamics in beef cattle predict finishing performance under different backgrounding systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 374-375
Author(s):  
Bobwealth O Omontese ◽  
Ashok Sharma ◽  
Samuel Davidson ◽  
Emily Jacobson ◽  
Megan Webb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Bacterial Gene ◽  
Rumen Microbes ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
Rumen Microbiome ◽  
Microbe Interactions ◽  
Early Developmental

Abstract Backgrounding (BKG) impacts growth and finishing performance in beef cattle. However, specific microbiome contributions to growth performance during this period, considering different BKG systems, remain unknown. A longitudinal study was designed to characterize the rumen microbiome and average daily gain (ADG) of Angus and Angus x Simmental calves (n = 38) placed under different BKG systems for 55 d after weaning: DL: a high roughage diet within a dry lot and CC: annual cover crop within a strip and PP, while a third group, PP: remained on perennial pasture vegetation within rotational paddocks, just as before weaning. After BKG, calves went to a feedlot for 142 d and finished with a high energy ration. Rumen bacterial communities were profiled by collecting fluid samples via oral probe, and sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene, at weaning, during backgrounding and finishing. For calves moved to CC and DL BKG, bacterial composition diverged drastically, including sharp decreases in bacterial diversity (P &lt; 0.001), while PP claves conserved more stable diversity patterns. During BKG, DL calves also showed the greatest ADG (P &lt; 0.05), which coincided with increased abundance of taxa affiliated to the Aeromondales (Succinivibrio, Succcinimonas and Ruminobacter) (P &lt; 0.001). However, once in the finishing phase, PP calves showed compensatory ADG, with significantly higher values, particularly compared with calves on DL BKG (v = 0.02). Network theory analyses were concordant with these patterns, highlighting the importance of understanding microbe-microbe interactions at early developmental stages to predict finishing performance. These results indicate that rumen microbes and their network interactions during backgrounding successfully predict finishing performance in beef cattle, underscoring the importance of early post weaning stages as potential targets for feeding interventions that can modulate the rumen microbiome to enhance lifelong animal performance.

scholarly journals PSVI-22 Rumen microbiome of beef cattle is modulated by backgrounding systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 220-220
Author(s):  
Bobwealth O Omontese ◽  
Ashok K Sharma ◽  
Jason Langlie ◽  
Joe Armstrong ◽  
Alfredo DiCostanzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Bacterial Gene ◽  
Beef Calves ◽  
Rumen Microbiome

Abstract Backgrounding (BKG) segment in beef production systems is characterized by utilization of different forages which affect growth performance and carcass characteristics. However, it is unclear how BKG systems impact rumen microbiome. We investigated rumen microbiome dynamics of beef calves under different BKG systems. At weaning, Angus and Angus x Simmental beef calves (n = 38) were stratified by age, weight, and sex in a completely randomized design into 1 of 3 BKG treatments for 55 d: 1) perennial pasture (PP; quackgrass, orchardgrass; smooth bromegrass, red clover, and alfalfa); 2) summer annual cover crop (CC; cereal oats, purple top turnips, hunter forage brassica, and graza forage radish); and 3) dry lot (DL; haylage, corn, and DDGS). After BKG, all calves were assigned to a high energy ration in a feedlot. Rumen sample was collected via esophageal tubing at weaning, BKG and feedlot. A total of 190 rumen fluid samples were used to sequence the hypervariable V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene on an Illumina MiSeq platform. The results showed that BKG systems largely influenced rumen bacterial communities. Specifically, microbiome composition and diversity were not different at weaning, diverged significantly during BKG (Shannon index, Bray Curtis distance metrics; P &lt; 0.001) and homogenized during feedlot. During the BKG segment, the bacterial genera Agrobacterium, Coprococcus, and Ruminococcus were dominant in CC whereas Fibrobacteraceae and Mycoplasmataceae was most dominant in DL. Moreover, rumen microbiome patterns of CC and DL calves showed increased plasticity in early stages of development but not during feedlot with PP showing fewer changes over time. These results indicate that BKG systems significantly modulate the rumen microbiome of beef cattle and, underscore the importance of early developmental stages as potential targets for feeding interventions that can impact the animal microbiome to enhance animal performance.

Corn or soybean hull incorporation into haylage-based backgrounding beef cattle diets: Effect on growth and efficiency during the backgrounding and finishing periods

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (4) ◽  
pp. 615-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. C. Swanson ◽  
M. Ko ◽  
C. J. Mader
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Soybean Hulls ◽  
Feedlot Performance ◽  
Final Body Weight ◽  
Plasma Urea ◽  
Soybean Hull ◽  
Daily Gain

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of corn or soybean hull incorporation into haylage-based diets on backgrounding calf performance and subsequent feedlot performance. Crossbred steers [n = 48, initial body weight (BW) = 303 ± 3.4 kg] were individually fed dietary treatments consisting of: (1) haylage [17.5% crude protein, dry matter (DM) basis; control], (2) haylage + 20% (DM basis) cracked corn, and (3) haylage + 20% (DM basis) soybean hulls during a 112-d backgrounding period. After the backgrounding period, all steers were adapted to a common high moisture corn-based finishing diet and fed until an ultrasound estimated backfat thickness of 7 mm was obtained. During the backgrounding period, steers fed cracked corn or soybean hulls had greater (P < 0.01) average daily gain, dry matter intake and gain:feed and lower (P = 0.05) plasma urea N as compared with controls. However, when finished on a common high-concentrate diet, steers previously fed cracked corn had greater (P < 0.08) average daily gain, final body weight, and longissimus muscle area than those fed soybean hulls, suggesting that source of supplemental energy during the backgrounding period may influence subsequent feedlot performance. Key words: Beef cattle, backgrounding, energy supplementation

Effect of nutritional regimen including limit feeding and breed on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality in beef cattle

2012 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. McGregor ◽  
C. P. Campbell ◽  
S. P. Miller ◽  
P. P. Purslow ◽  
I. B. Mandell
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Meat Quality ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Limit Feeding ◽  
Daily Gain

McGregor, E M., Campbell, C. P., Miller, S. P., Purslow, P. P. and Mandell, I. B. 2012. Effect of nutritional regimen including limit feeding and breed on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality in beef cattle. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 327–341. The effects of nutritional management regimen and breed on growth performance, carcass attributes, and meat quality were evaluated in 68 British (BRIT) and Continental (CONT) crossbred steers, managed on one of three nutritional regimens: (1) ad libitum access to a 77% corn diet (ALGRAIN), (2) limit feeding initially of the 77% corn diet, followed by ad libitum access to the 77% corn diet (LFGRAIN), and (3) limit feeding initially of a 90% haylage diet, followed by ad libitum access to the 77% corn diet (LFHAYL). Nutritional regimen by breed interactions (P<0.02) were present for average daily gain, dry matter intake (DMI), gain to feed, and shear force. LFHAYL regimen decreased gains to a greater extent for BRIT steers than CONT steers managed on ALGRAIN or LFGRAIN. Feed intakes were similar across nutritional regimens for CONT steers, while DMI was depressed in BRIT on LFHAYL as compared with steers started on ALGRAIN or LFGRAIN. Gain to feed was greater in BRIT cattle on LFGRAIN vs. ALGRAIN, while gain to feed was similar in CONT started on grain (ALGRAIN, LFGRAIN). Shear force was lower for beef from LFHAYL BRIT vs. beef from BRIT on ALGRAIN or LFGRAIN, while the converse was true for CONT. Limit feeding of a high-energy diet may be appropriate for cattle of British background to reduce feed input costs, while ensuring tenderness.

scholarly journals Performance and feed efficiency of beef cattle fed high energy diet with probiotic consortium technology

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Miranda MOREIRA ◽  
Javier Andrés Moreno MENESES ◽  
Cintia Vanin RIBEIRO ◽  
Alyce de Melo FARIA ◽  
Helena Graciani ARANTES ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Traits ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Daily Gain ◽  
Fecal Score

SUMMARY The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotic consortium on feed intake, feeding behavior, feed efficiency, fecal score, weight gain and carcass traits in finishing Nellore heifers fed high energy diets in feedlot. Twenty-four Nellore heifers were distributed in 12 pens with two animals each, being six pens per treatment. In the control treatment (CON) the animals were fed exclusively with the base diet, which contained 35% corn silage and 65% concentrate. In the treatment with probiotic consortium technology (TCP), the animals received the base diet and a single dose of 75 mL/animal/day of Bio Ciclo Completo (Global Saúde Brasil) top-dressed in the morning feeding. There was no period of adaptation to the diet. The experiment lasted 93 days. The use of TCP did not affect (P = 0.980) the dry matter intake. The average daily gain was 12.5% greater (P = 0.025) in the animals treated with TCP (0.941 kg/day for TCP versus 0.834 kg/day for CON). The animals that received TCP improved (P = 0.021) the feed efficiency by 12.6%. The animals that received TCP tended to have a better (P = 0.094) fecal score within the first 27 days of feedlot. There were no significant effects of TCP on the feeding behavior and carcass traits. Based on the results, there is a great potential of using TCP to improve productivity in beef cattle.

272 Managing for Efficiency and Quality Through Diet and Implant Strategies on Steers Selected for Superior Marbling

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 131-132
Author(s):  
Erika L Lundy ◽  
Aubree M Beenken ◽  
Patrick B Wall ◽  
Daniel D Loy
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Beef Steers ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Marbling Score ◽  
Feedlot Performance ◽  
Ribeye Area ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
Daily Gain

Abstract A 144-day study assessed the effects of dietary energy and implant potency to determine optimum strategies for managing feed conversion (F:G) and marbling. Fifty-four Angus steers (327 ± 8 kg) from Iowa State University’s herd genetically selected for enhanced marbling were stratified by initial bodyweight (BW), ultrasound intramuscular fat, and age to a 2 × 3 factorial. Dietary treatments included: low energy (1.30 Mcal NEg/kg DM, 18% roughage level; LE) or high energy finishing ration (1.39 Mcal NEg/kg DM, 8% roughage; HE). Implant treatments (IMP; Merck) included: no implant (NOIMP), Revalor-IS (RIS), or Revalor-200 (R200) on d 0 and 74. Steers were fed via bunks capturing daily individual feed disappearance (n = 9 steers/treatment). Steers were weighed on d 0, 74, and 144 and harvested on d 145. Data were analyzed in Proc Mixed of SAS with fixed effects of diet, IMP, and interaction. No interactions were observed for feedlot performance (P &gt; 0.17). Steers fed HE had greater average daily gain (ADG) and final BW than LE steers (P &lt; 0.01) while LE steers had greater F:G (P = 0.04). Final BW and ADG were greatest for R200, intermediate for RIS, and lowest for NOIMP (P &lt; 0.01). F:G was greatest for NOIMP, intermediate for RIS, and lowest for R200 (P &lt; 0.01). Steers fed HE had increased ribeye area (P &lt; 0.01) and tended to have greater marbling score (P = 0.06; 809) than LE steers (769). While ribeye area increased in response to implant potency (P &lt; 0.01), marbling score was not impacted (P = 0.21) by IMP (815, 771, 782, for NOIMP, RIS, R200, respectively). Overall, steers graded 100% Choice or higher and 55% Prime. These data suggest implants, when used appropriately, improve growth performance and efficiency in beef steers without compromising carcass quality.

scholarly journals PSIII-5 Effects of ingredient composition of oral drenches in small piglets post-farrowing on average daily gain and pre-wean mortality

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 238-238
Author(s):  
Olivia Harrison ◽  
Samantha Tauer ◽  
Brent Frederick
Keyword(s):  
Birth Weight ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Swine Industry ◽  
Bioactive Proteins ◽  
Randomized Design ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Daily Gain

Abstract Number of pigs born alive has been a key factor of the increasing efficiency of the U.S. swine industry. However, with increased pigs in the uterus, birth weight has been negatively impacted, with more small or at-risk pigs being born per litter. In order to overcome these changes, a study testing three commercial oral drenches against a control to determine which would increase average daily gain and decrease preweaning mortality. In a completely randomized design, 877 one-day-old suckling pigs from a high-health farm were selected for the experiment if they appeared to be in the bottom 20% of bodyweight compared to their contemporaries. Selected pigs were given one of four drenching treatments: 1) none (control), 2) bioactive proteins (BP), 3) high energy sugars (HES), and 4) immunoglobulins (IgY). Pigs were weighed on d 1 and d 19 of age (weaning), with mortality tracked during the suckling period. Data were analyzed using SAS v 9.4 (Cary, NC), with pig as the experimental unit and an accepted alpha of 0.05. Treatment had no detected effect on birth weight, weaning weight, ADG, or mortality (P = 0.79, 0.96, 0.86, 0.38 respectively). Likewise, statistical contrasts were used to determine there was no detected impact (P &gt; 0.10) of drench, regardless of type, compared to the control in any measured response criteria. Interesting, pigs drenched with BP or IgY had numerically lower preweaning mortality (11.2 and 11.5% respectively), than those administered the control or HES (15.4 and 15.2%, respectively). In conclusion, this experiment showed no significant difference in the performance between piglets given no product vs. those drenched with bioactive proteins, high energy sugars, or immunoglobulins. However, additional research is warranted with greater replication or disease stressors to better understand if oral drenches may improve preweaning performance or mortality in different situations.

PSIV-2 A comparison of feedlot growth and performance of beef x Holstein crossbred steers and Holstein steers

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 298-299
Author(s):  
Bailey L Basiel ◽  
Chad D Dechow ◽  
Tara L Felix
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Feedlot Performance ◽  
Performance Variables ◽  
Dried Distillers Grains ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Daily Gain

Abstract Objectives were to compare feedlot performance and carcass traits of F1 beef × Holstein steers and Holstein steers. Angus or Limousin × Holstein crossbred [n = 27; age = 12 ± 3 months; body weight (BW) = 435 ± 8 kg] and Holstein (n = 20; age = 11 ± 2 months; BW = 400 ± 9 kg) steers were fed at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Livestock Evaluation Center for 111 days. Feed intake was recorded using the GrowSafe Feed Intake Monitoring System (Model 4000E, GrowSafe Systems Ltd., Calgary AB, Canada). The diet contained corn silage, dried distillers grains, soybean meal, and cracked corn and was formulated to meet or exceed the requirements of beef cattle (NASEM, 2016). Growth performance variables of interest and carcass measurements were analyzed with the Mixed procedure of SAS (SAS 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). USDA assigned quality grades (QG) and yield grades (YG) were analyzed the with GLIMMIX procedure of SAS. Breed was a fixed effect in all models. There were no differences (P &gt; 0.05) between breeds in average daily gain or feed efficiency. Crossbreds exceeded Holsteins in initial (P &lt; 0.01) and final BW (P = 0.01), dry matter intake (P = 0.03), hot carcass weight (P &lt; 0.01), backfat (P = 0.03), and ribeye area (REA; P &lt; 0.01). Thirty-five percent (35%) of the Holsteins received a QG of Choice or above while 74% of crossbreds graded USDA Choice or above (P = 0.01). However, 75% of Holsteins were YG 2 or lower while only 45% of crossbreds achieved YG 2 or less (P = 0.05). There was no improvement in efficiency when crossbreds were compared to Holsteins; however, carcasses from crossbreds were more likely to grade USDA Choice or above while yielding greater REA and backfat than Holsteins.

scholarly journals Effects of restricted feeding and re-alimentation of dietary protein or energy on compensatory growth of sheep

1970 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-396
Author(s):  
W. Addah ◽  
A. Ayantunde ◽  
E.K. Okine
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Carcass Characteristics ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
Nutrient Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Daily Gain

The study investigated the effects of re-alimenting dietary protein or energy on growth, carcass characteristics and meat eating quality parameters of sheep. Twenty-seven intact rams (~9 months; 11.3 ± 0.5 kg) were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was fed a maintenance diet (MT) containing, on dry matter (DM) basis, 105 g/kg crude protein (CP) and 8.4 MJ/kg DM metabolizable energy (ME) for 30 days. Thereafter, they were continually fed the same MT or re-alimented with a high protein diet (HP) containing 169 g/kg DM CP and 9.3 MJ/kg ME or a high energy diet (HE) containing 123 g/kg DM CP and 10.6 MJ/kg ME for an additional 30 days to determine the effects of re-alimentation of protein or energy on their growth performance and carcass characteristics. During the initial 30-day period, DM intake (DMI) and growth performance were similar among the three groups. However, upon re-alimentation, average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency of sheep re-alimented with HP were greater than those maintained continually on MT or re-alimented with HE. Sheep on HP had higher feed efficiency, ADG and heavier carcasses than those fed MT or re-alimented with HE during the whole 60-day period. Growth of most viscera was less responsive to the restriction-re-alimentation feeding regimen except for the weights of the lungs, heart and intestines. Meat from sheep re-alimented with HE had a more intense ‘sheepy’ flavour than those fed MT or re-alimented with HP, but juiciness and tenderness were not affected. The higher ADG of sheep re-alimented with protein may be related more to enhanced efficiency of feed utilization than to higher DMI.Keywords: average daily gain, feed restriction, nutrient utilization efficiency, visceral organs

scholarly journals Influences of environment on the development and lifetime reproductive performance in domestic rabbit females

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Savietto ◽  
E. Martínez-Paredes ◽  
J.J. Pascual
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Body Development ◽  
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Haemorrhagic Disease ◽  
Access To Food ◽  
Daily Gain

<p class="MDPI18keywords">Environmental insults of different nature and intensity, such as fluctuation in the air temperature, which can affect access to food, its quality and diseases, are a reality in any livestock system. This is much more important when the insults occur in early life, conditioning the development and adult life of animals. In ecology, for instance, it is widely accepted that high quality offspring are more reactive against predators, occupy better territories and find more mates, resulting in longer lives and greater fitness. It is also a given that adults exposed to famine or disease as juveniles have shorter lives and produce fewer offspring. To determine whether the environment influences the development and lifetime reproductive performance of rabbit females, we designed an experiment combining two factors: nest and pubescent development. Nest development was measured by recording the average daily gain of 864 females during suckling and during their pubescent life (63 to 184 d old), and body development was conditioned by providing animals a high-energy control (C) or a fibre-rich (F) diet. However, in the course of the study, 191 of the 864 pubescent females were exposed to rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD). This unexpected environmental insult was considered as a third experimental factor influencing the reproductive performance of rabbit females. Contrary to expectation, fast suckling gain impairs reproductive lifespan, resulting in fewer newborn kits produced in a female lifetime. Although females on diet F lived 37 d longer than females on diet C, this difference was only perceived in their pubescent life. In addition, the exposure to RHD interacted with suckling gain (SG). Exposed females with a fast SG produced more kits as adults, but in the absence of the virus, high SG females produced fewer newborn kits. These results open new insights into the management of future breeders during nesting and pubescent life.</p>

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