New Insights on the Impact of Cattle Handling on Post-Mortem Myofibrillar Muscle Proteome and Meat Tenderization

This study investigated the effect of different cattle management strategies at farm (Intensive vs. Extensive) and during transport and lairage (mixing vs. non-mixing with unfamiliar animals) on the myofibrillar subproteome of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle of “Asturiana de los Valles” yearling bulls. It further aimed to study the relationships with beef quality traits including pH, color, and tenderness evaluated by Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF). Thus, comparative proteomics of the myofibrillar fraction along meat maturation (from 2 h to 14 days post-mortem) and different quality traits were analyzed. A total of 23 protein fragments corresponding to 21 unique proteins showed significant differences among the treatments (p < 0.05) due to any of the factors considered (Farm, Transport and Lairage, and post-mortem time ageing). The proteins belong to several biological pathways including three structural proteins (MYBPC2, TNNT3, and MYL1) and one metabolic enzyme (ALDOA) that were affected by both Farm and Transport/Lairage factors. ACTA1, LDB3, and FHL2 were affected by Farm factors, while TNNI2 and MYLPF (structural proteins), PKM (metabolic enzyme), and HSPB1 (small Heat shock protein) were affected by Transport/Lairage factors. Several correlations were found between the changing proteins (PKM, ALDOA, TNNI2, TNNT3, ACTA1, MYL1, and CRYAB) and color and tenderness beef quality traits, indicating their importance in the determination of meat quality and their possible use as putative biomarkers.

Undergraduate Certificate in Beef Cattle Production Management

owa State University (ISU) offers undergraduate certificates to demonstrate completion of a focused study in a specialized area across a variety of disciplines. The certificate has the significant benefit of allowing students to customize their curriculum and document completion of an approved course of study. A Beef Cattle Production Management Certificate is offered within the Animal Science Department at ISU. The certificate requirements are organized to correspond with faculty and employer-defined needs for a successful transition from ISU student to beef cattle industry professional.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Beef Cattle Production Management certificate will integrate technical topics in animal science with practical considerations in enterprise management. Two critical components to the certificate are the capstone Beef Cattle Enterprise Management course and a required internship that focuses on beef cattle management. Students that complete the certificate will have the background to identify and address challenges in modern beef cattle production enterprises. Further, the certificate assists employers in identifying students that have shown the interest, discipline, and ability to complete this specialized study program.&nbsp;

170 Effectiveness of On-line Webinars for Delivering Extension Education to Beef Producers Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all in-person Extension programs in Kentucky were canceled in March 2020. In order to continue reaching beef producers, a webinar series was developed. The initial series was eight weekly evening sessions. Sessions were streamed live on a video meeting and social media platform and were recorded for future viewing. Programs consisted of a presentation followed by a question-and-answer session, covering multi-disciplinary topics related to beef management. Following each session, participants were asked to complete a survey to gauge the effectiveness of the programs using a series of questions with responses on a 5-point Likert scale. The average number of responses was 17 and ranged from 4–31 respondents per session. Knowledge level before and after the presentation was asked for a given topic to assess the increase in subject awareness/understanding (1: not very knowledgeable; 5: very knowledgeable). The average response across all respondents (n = 138) for pre-program knowledge was 2.98, and the average response post-program was 4.37. This represented a 46.6% change across all topics covered in the post-attendance surveys. The most common age demographic represented by survey respondents was 50–59 years of age, and 84% of respondents reported previously participating in a webinar. Participants were asked to evaluate the webinar technology in terms of its ease of access (1: not very easy; 5: very easy), and the average response was 4.64. Participants were asked to evaluate the material presented in each session for its usefulness (1: not very useful; 5- very useful), and the average response was 4.71. When asked if the webinar was an effective use of time (1: not very useful; 5: very useful), the average response was 4.8. Overall, webinars were an effective means of delivering Extension education related to beef cattle management in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PSXI-3 Genome-wide association study for MIR-predicted milk fatty acids composition in Russian Holstein cattle population

Milk fatty acids (FA) derived from infrared spectra are a new type of traits that allow fast and predictability use their in dairy breeding and herd cattle management. The Holstein animals feature are the high milk yield, but milk composition traits can be different according to population or country origin. The purpose of our study was to find out genetic variation for milk FA and detect QTLs associated with Holstein sires’ EBV in Russian cattle population. For this analysis, we used an experimental dataset for 36982 milk test records from 14 breeding herds in the Moscow region. Individual milk samples per animal analyzed routinely by MilkoScan7 for different FA types: C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated, short-, medium- and long-chain. Total number of bulls consisted 778 individuals including 222 animals with genotypes (39051 SNP, Illumina 50K). For calculating EBV by Sire Model, we applied BLUPF90. Plink 1.90 performed quality check control and GWAS procedure. Heritability coefficients were 0.071–0.155 for C14:0-C18:0 levels, 0.196 for C18:1, 0.083 for SFA, 0.018 for PUFA, 0.176 for MUFA, 0.114–0.155 for SCFA-LCFA levels. GWAS revealed most significant (P &lt; 0.001-0.00001) frequently QTLs associated with FA content that were cited in articles previously for BTA5 (CHST11,C18:1), BTA6 (KCNIP4,C18:1; PPRAGC1A,C18:0), BTA11 (NRXN1,LPIN1,C18:1; NBAS,C18:0), BTA26 (PCDH15,PUFA; PRKG1,C18:1). These genes were responsible for synthesis milk fat, fertility, udder conformation traits, lauric, myristic, myristoleic, palmatoleic, oleic and other types of FA. In addition, we identified several QTLs for C14:0, C16:0, SFA, MUFA, SCFA, LCFA on BTA1 (137.32 Mb), BTA10 (5.50 Mb, 9.79 Mb), BTA14 (44.35 Mb), BTA19 (17.57–17.89 Mb) and BTA22 (14.02–14.06 Mb, 20.29–20.45 Mb). Our results are the first steps toward to understanding genetic and genomic mechanisms for using FA in selection processes to improve milk quality for Holstein cattle in Russia. The study was funded by RSF (project No. 21-76-20046)

Pendugaan Kualitas Karkas Sapi Persilangan Belgian Blue dan Friesian Holstein dengan Teknik Pencitraan Ultrasonografi

ABSTRACT. Kementerian Pertanian terus berupaya untuk mewujudkan swasembada daging sapi/kerbau melalui pengembangan sapi keturunan Belgian Blue. Salah satu bangsa sapi yang dikembangkan adalah sapi persilangan Belgian Blue dengan Friesian Holstein (BBXFH). Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi kualitas karkas sapi persilangan Belgian Blue (BB) dengan Friesian Holstein (FH) dengan menggunakan teknik pencitraan ultrasonografi (USG). Sapi yang digunakan dalam penelitian merupakan sapi pada turunan pertama (F1). Sebanyak 13 ekor sapi jantan hasil persilangan BB dan FH berasal dari BET Cipelang 5 ekor dan 8 ekor dari BBPTU HPT Baturraden dengan umur 14-18 bulan. Pengukuran back fat (BF), longissimus dorsi (LD), skor marbling (SM) dan lemak intramuskular (LIM) dilakukan di antara tulang rusuk ke-12 dan ke-13 dengan teknik pencitraan ultrasonografi. Pengukuran rump fat (RF) dan rump thickness (RT) dilakukan di antara daerah ischium dan ilium. Nilai SM dan PIF dianalisis lebih lanjut menggunakan software image-J sehingga menghasilkan integrated density dan dilakukan uji regresi untuk menentukan kurva standar dan skor marbling serta persentase LIM. Data dianalisis menggunakan uji-t tidak berpasangan (independence t-test) berdasarkan perbedaan lokasi pengambilan data. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan perbedaan lokasi tidak memberikan pengaruh pada skor marbling, %LIM, ketebalan LD, dan ketebalan RT (P0,05), tetapi memberikan pengaruh pada ketebalan BF dan RF (P0,05). Faktor perbedaan pakan juga belum mampu memberikan pengaruh pada SM dan %LIM. Perbedaan ketebalan BF dan RF dapat dipengaruhi karena perbedaan manajemen pemeliharaan dimana sapi-sapi di BBPTU HPT Baturraden dipelihara dengan sistem penggembalaan sehingga mengalami penurunan ketebalan BF dan RF. (Estimation of Carcass Quality in Belgian Blue and Friesian Holstein Crossbreed using Ultrasound Imaging) ABSTRAK. The Ministry of Agriculture strives to achieve beef/buffalo self-sufficiency through the development of Belgian Blue breeds. One of the breeds that has been developed is the crossbreed of Belgian Blue and Friesian Holstein (BBXFH). This study aimed to evaluate the carcass quality of crossbreed BBXFH using ultrasound imaging technique (USG). Cattle used in the study were first breed (F1). A total of 13 bulls BBXFH came from BET Cipelang and BBPTU HPT Baturraden respectively 5 and 8 heads (14-18 months age). Measurements of back fat (BF), longissimus dorsi (LD), marbling score (SM) and intramuscular fat (LIM) were performed between the 12th and 13th ribs by ultrasound imaging technique. Rump fat (RF) and rump thickness (RT) measurements were performed between the ischium and ilium areas. The SM and PIF values were analyzed using image-J software and a regression test was performed to determine the standard curve and the marbling score and the LIM percentage. Data were analyzed using unpaired t-test. The results showed that the difference in location had no effect on the marbling score, % LIM, LD, and RT (P 0,05), but had an effect on BF and RF (P 0,05). The difference factor in feed has not effect on SM and% LIM. The difference in BF and RF obtained in this study might be due to the difference of cattle management, where cattle in BBPTU HPT Baturraden are raising with a grazing system so that the BF and RF decrease.

Cattle management in an Iron Age/Roman settlement in the Netherlands: Archaeozoological and stable isotope analysis

Cattle were the predominant domestic animal in the Iron Age and Roman Netherlands, yet their management is still incompletely understood. Some aspects of cattle management, such as birth season and the provision of fodder, have received little or no attention so far. This paper is the first to investigate these aspects for the Iron Age and Roman Netherlands, through a case study of the site of Houten-Castellum. The rural settlement of Houten-Castellum was inhabited from the Middle Iron Age to the Middle Roman period, allowing a comparison between the Iron Age and Roman period. Excavations at this site have yielded a large, well-preserved animal bone assemblage. This paper investigates cattle husbandry by using an integrated approach, combining a multi-isotope analysis (oxygen, carbon and strontium) with archaeozoological and archaeobotanical results from Houten-Castellum and comparing the results with archaeobotanical evidence for fodder and evidence for dairy use for the Iron Age and Roman Netherlands in general. While our data set is small and results must therefore be interpreted cautiously, there is convincing evidence for an extended birth season in the Middle Iron Age, as well as the use of fodder.

Impact of Exposure to Chronic Light–Dark Phase Shifting Circadian Rhythm Disruption on Muscle Proteome in Periparturient Dairy Cows

Muscle tissue serves as a key nutrient reservoir that dairy cows utilize to meet energy and amino acid requirements for fetal growth and milk production. Circadian clocks act as homeostatic regulators so that organisms can anticipate regular environmental changes. The objective of this study was to use liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to determine how chronic circadian disruption in late gestation affected the muscle tissue proteome. At five weeks before expected calving (BEC), multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to either a control (CON, n = 8) or a 6 h forward phase shift (PS, n = 8) of the light–dark cycle every 3 days. At calving, all animals were exposed to CON light–dark cycles. Muscle biopsies were collected from longissimus dorsi muscles at 21 days BEC and at 21 days postpartum (PP). At p < 0.1, 116 and 121 proteins were differentially abundant between PS and CON at 21 days BEC and 21 days PP, respectively. These proteins regulate beta oxidation and glycolysis. Between pregnancy and lactation, 134 and 145 proteins were differentially abundant in CON and PS cows, respectively (p < 0.1). At both timepoints, PS cows exhibited an oxidative stress signature. Thus, dairy cattle management strategies that minimize circadian disruptions may ensure optimal health and production performance.

Unmitigated Surgical Castration in Calves of Different Ages: Electroencephalographic and Neurohormonal Findings

Castration is a common management procedure employed in North American cattle production and is known to cause a pain response. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of unmitigated surgical castration on the electroencephalography (EEG) responses and plasma substance P (SP) concentrations in calves of different ages under the same experimental conditions. Thirty male Holstein calves in three age categories [<6 weeks (6W); 3 months (3M); 6 months (6M); 10 calves per age group] were used in the study. Calves were subjected to a simulated castration session (SHAM) followed 24 h later by surgical castration (CAST) without analgesia. An EEG analysis was performed before the procedure (i.e., baseline), at treatment, and 0–5, 5–10, and 10–20 min post-treatment for both SHAM and CAST, respectively. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to both treatments (time 0) and again at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 h after both treatments. The EEG results showed a three-way interaction between treatment, age, and time for delta and beta absolute power, beta relative power, total power, and median frequency (p = 0.004, p = 0.04, p = 0.04, p = 0.03, and p = 0.008, respectively). Following CAST, EEG total power decreased, and median frequency increased relative to SHAM in 6W and 3M calves only following treatment. For 6W and 3M calves, delta and beta absolute power increased at CAST and at later time points relative to SHAM. Marginal evidence for two-way interactions was noted between time and treatment and between age and treatment on the concentration of SP (p = 0.068 and p = 0.066, respectively). Substance P concentrations decreased in CAST treatment compared to SHAM at the later times (8 h: p = 0.007; 12 h: p = 0.048); 6W calves showed lower SP concentration at CAST relative to SHAM (p = 0.017). These findings indicate variation in EEG responses and in SP concentrations following unmitigated surgical castration in calves and that these responses may be age specific. These EEG findings have implications for supporting the perception of the pain associated with surgical castration in young calves and emphasize the urgency of pain mitigation strategies during routine husbandry practices such as castration, as typically implemented in North American cattle management.