Non-invasive metabolomics biomarkers of production efficiency and beef carcass quality traits

The inter-cattle growth variations stem from the interaction of many metabolic processes making animal selection difficult. We hypothesized that growth could be predicted using metabolomics. Urinary biomarkers of cattle feed efficiency were explored using mass spectrometry-based untargeted and targeted metabolomics. Feed intake and weight-gain was measured in steers (n = 75) on forage-based growing rations (stage-1, 84 days) followed by high-concentrate finishing rations (stage-2, 84 days). Urine from days 0, 21, 42, 63, and 83 in each stage were analyzed from steers with the greater (n = 14) and least (n = 14) average-daily-gain (ADG) and comparable dry-matter-intake (DMI; within 0.32 SD of the mean). Steers were slaughtered after stage-2. Adjusted fat-thickness and carcass-yield-grade increased in greater-ADG-cattle selected in stage-1, but carcass traits did not differ between ADG-selected in stage-2. Overall 85 untargeted metabolites segregated greater- and least-ADG animals, with overlap across diets (both stages) and breed type, despite sampling time effects. Total 18-bile acids (BAs) and 5-steroids were quantified and associated with performance and carcass quality across ADG-classification depending on the stage. Stepwise logistic regression of urinary BA and steroids had > 90% accuracy identifying efficient-ADG-steers. Urine metabolomics provides new insight into the physiological mechanisms and potential biomarkers for feed efficiency.

Growth responses of maize-soybean intercropping system and its potential for cattle feed in Bali

There had been a 2.145 ha fields transition in Bali which had a major impact on the loss of food production. However, there was raise in the population annually, therefore it disrupts local food security. Effort to raise the effectiveness and agricultural productivity areas through changing cropping system from monoculture to intercropping. This study aimed to find out the growth responses of maize and soybean crops cultivated by monoculture and intercropping planting systems and its carrying capacity for cattle feed. The study was arranged using a randomized block design with 3 treatments and 3 replications, namely: T1: Bima 20 URI VUB maize seeds in monoculture (40cm x 20cm x 80cm; 1 seed/hole or 70cm x 40cm x 100cm; 2 seeds/hole); T2: Anjasmoro, Deja 2 and Devon soybean VUB seeds in monoculture system (40cm x 20cm; 2-3 seeds/hole); T3: maize-soybean intercropping; Maize (2 rows; 40cm x 12.5; 2 seeds/hole); Soybeans (4 rows; 30cm x 10cm; 2-3 seeds/hole); both distance: 40cm. Data collected were growth performance, yield components and yield capacity of both maize and soybean crops also competition and profit value of maize and soybeans crops cultivated by intercropping planting system. The results showed that monoculture maize crops cultivated by monoculture planting system were better than it intercropped with soybean crops in terms of growth parameters. However, intercropping maize and soybean were produced greater yield components on cobs number, cobs and grains weight than monoculture (P<0.05), except grains weight per cobs. The monoculture soybean plant in growth, components and yield parameters were greater than intercropping (P>0.05). The ATER, LER, RCC, CR, and AYL values were 3.24; 1.28; -2.69; 4.58; -0.098 on maize and 2.52; 0.84; 1.82; 0.21; -0.158 on soybean. Those result was followed by carrying capacity in intercropping system by 30% usage can be used for 1.804 AU meanwhile 40% usage was sufficient for 1.353 AU. Intercropping system can be recommended to farmers to increase growth responses of maize-soybean and its potential carrying capacity for cattle feed.

The administration’s effect of domestic soybean, lablab bean and lima bean content of genistein to improve the productivity of Bali cattle

Bali cattle plays a significant role as producers of food products for humans. Legumes are used in high-quality animal feed to increase productivity. This study analyzed the use ofdomestic Soybean (Glycine max), Lablab bean (Lablab purpureus), and Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) as the genistein in Bali cattle feed to shorten postpartum estrus. Different drying methods were applied by putting the ingredients in the oven at 55 ºC and the freeze dryer at -40 ºC.Further, genistein was detected using the Thin Layer Chromatography Method at UV 254 and 366 to determine the Rf value. The parameters measured include genistein detection and genistein identification as well as genistein content in legume straw. The data were analyzed descriptiveusing ANOVA and t-test. The result showed that only two samples adhered to the gel silica plate, including domestic soybean straw using the oven and freeze dryer (DSOD and DSFD), with 0.48 in DSOD and 0.51 in DSFD of Rf value, that is close to the genistein standard with the Rf value of 0.50 and purple colour as the colour of genistein standard. Moreover, the statistical analyses indicated significant differences in the genistein content of legumestraw between DSOD and DSFD (P<0.05), where DSOD=0.662g/100g and DSFD=1.770g/100g. The domestic soybean straw is regarded as a potential source ofBali cattle feed to improve productivity.

Effect of addition cattle feed supplement on in vitro fermentation, synthesis of microbial biomass, and methane production of rice straw fermentation basal diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of supplementation of cattle feed supplement (CFS) and concentrate in ruminant diets based on rice straw fermented (R) on in vitro rumen fermentation, microbial biomass synthesis, and enteric methane production. Five experimental diets were evaluated, consist of R = rice straw fermented 100%, RS = R + CFS 10%, RSC1, 2 and 3 = RS + Concentrate levels 10, 20 and 30 (%DM). Supplementation of CFS increased the gas production (P < 0.05) and highest in treatments RSC1 and 2 (44.09 and 44.87 ml/g substrate, respectively) and was decreased proportions of methane by inhibition rate until 49.80%. Ruminal protozoa population increased by CFS dan concentrate supplementation (P<0,05) and was dominated (>80%) of Entodinium genus. The treatments RS dan RSC1 promoted greater (P < 0.01) microbial biomass synthesis (386.32 and 312.39 mg/g substrate, respectively). In conclusion, the supplementation of CFS and concentrate in ruminant diets based on rice straw fermented can promote a greater synthesis of microbial biomass and mitigation of methane production.

Assessment of maize-peanut intercropping and its potential waste usage for cattle feed in dry land

Intercropping planting system is one of methods to enhance the land productivity. The maize and peanut crops waste has high beneficial to farmers for cattle feed. The study of maize and peanut crops intercropping has been conducted in May-August 2020. Study was arranged by using Randomized Complete Block Design with 5 treatments and replicated for 8 times. Treatments examined were P1: Srikandi Kuning maize variety cultivated by monoculture planting system; P2: Nasa 29 maize variety cultivated by monoculture; P3: Peanut crop cultivated by monoculture; P4: Srikandi Kuning and peanut crop cultivated by intercropping; P5: Nasa 29 and peanut crop cultivated by intercropping. Variables observed were growth and yield components and analysed by analysis of variance and advanced tested by LSD at 5%. To know the land productivity, the calculation of Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was done meanwhile the Index of Plant Competition (IPC) also was calculated to know the plant competition level. Results showed that the peanut crop productivity by intercropping was decrease about 37.50%-38.79% compared to monoculture. Meanwhile, the productivity of Srikandi Kuning maize variety was also decrease due to the reducing of plant population. The intercropping of Srikandi Kuning and Nasa 29 variety with peanut crop enhance the LER became 1.02 and 1.03. The utilization of Nasa 29 maize variety by intercropping with peanut crop was better than Srikandi Kuning with the lower IPC namely 0.8932 meanwhile the IPC of Srikandi Kuning was 0.9270. The potential waste for cattle feed at maize crop plantation by monoculture was higher than intercropping with peanut crop and peanut crops by monoculture namely P3: 572 head/ha; P1: 500 head/ha; P5: 484 head/ha; P4: 454 head/day; P3: 288 head/day.

Establishment and Application of a Monitoring Strategy for Living Modified Cotton in Natural Environments in South Korea

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is grown worldwide for its natural hollow fibers and is used as cattle feed. Living modified (LM) cotton is not cultivated in South Korea and must be imported for food, feed, and processing. From 2009 to 2013, the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and the National Institute of Ecology (NIE) conducted a natural environment monitoring and post-management initiative for living modified organisms (LMOs) in some areas to reduce the likelihood of harmful effects caused by unintentionally discharged LMOs during transportation and use. In this study, we adopted a new strategy to identify unintentionally released LM cotton plants nationwide from 2014 to 2018. A total of 451 suspicious cotton samples were collected from 3921 survey sites. Among them, we identified 255 LM cotton plants, of which approximately 72.2% had transgenic herbicide and insecticide traits. The majority of the samples were collected from the roadside along transportation routes and from stockbreeding farms. This study establishes an LMO safety management system to efficiently maintain conservation efforts in South Korea. Our findings suggest that these efforts may play a key role in safely transporting, using, and managing approved LMOs, as well as in regulating unintentionally released LMOs, in order to preserve the natural ecosystem of South Korea.