scholarly journals 292 Genetic trend for feed efficiency, growth and carcass traits in three Canadian beef cattle populations involved in the Kinsella breeding project.

2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (suppl_3) ◽  
pp. 109-110
Author(s):  
C Ekine-Dzivenu ◽  
E Akanno ◽  
L Chen ◽  
L McKeown ◽  
B Irving ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Gabriel Miranda MOREIRA ◽  
Javier Andrés Moreno MENESES ◽  
Cintia Vanin RIBEIRO ◽  
Alyce de Melo FARIA ◽  
Helena Graciani ARANTES ◽  
...  

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.


2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 491-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Kennedy ◽  
R. D. Bergen ◽  
T. J. Lawson ◽  
J. A. Small ◽  
D. M. Veira

The effects of evening feeding and extended photoperiod on feedlot performance, live animal carcass traits and plasma prolactin were investigated in crossbred beef heifers in two consecutive Manitoba winters (1998–1999; exp. 1 and 1999–2000; exp. 2) using a 2 × 2 factorial design. Heifers were fed in the morning (1000 exp. 1 and 0900 exp. 2) or evening (2000) and exposed to natural winter photoperiod (NP) of <15 h or extended winter photoperiod (EP) of 16–19 h (65 lux exp. 1, 51 lux exp. 2) in outdoor partially covered pens. Heifers (n = 48; 276.9 ± 19.4 kg, mean ± SD) in exp. 1 were given a 60% forage: 40% concentrate backgrounding ration for 56 d followed by a 25% forage: 75% concentrate finishing ration for 70 d. In exp. 2, heifers (n = 48; 228.8 ± 18.8kg) were given the backgrounding ration for 170 d. Mean ambient temperature during the backgrounding and finishing periods in exp. 1 was -13.7 and 0.5°C, respectively. During the backgrounding period of exp. 1, evening feeding increased (P = 0.05) growth rate 10.1%, and tended (P = 0.08) to improve feed efficiency by 9.0%; EP tended (P = 0.08) to improve feed efficiency by 9.0%. During the finishing period there was a time of feeding × photoperiod interaction (P = 0.02) for feed efficiency with a tendency for most efficient gains in the morning-fed NP heifers. There were no main or interaction effects of time of feeding and photoperiod on ultrasonically measured subcutaneous fat depth or longissimus dorsi muscle area in exp. 1. Plasma prolactin was elevated by EP on day 42 (photoperiod × day; P < 0.01) of exp. 1. Mean ambient temperature during exp. 2 was -5.1°C, and there were no main or interaction effects of time of feeding or photoperiod on weight gain, dry matter intake or feed efficiency. However, subcutaneous fat depth was reduced by EP on day 156 (photoperiod × day; P < 0.01). Plasma prolactin did not change during the first 107 d of exp. 2, but subsequently rose in all but the morning-fed EP treatment group. The results indicate that both evening feeding and extended photoperiod can impact growth and feed efficiency of beef cattle during winter-feeding. Key words: Feedlot heifers, beef cattle, evening feeding, extended photoperiod, light, prolactin


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
David N Kelly ◽  
Stephen B Conroy ◽  
Craig P Murphy ◽  
Roy D Sleator ◽  
Donagh P Berry

Abstract Few studies have attempted to quantify the association between a terminal total merit index with phenotypic feed and production efficiency in beef cattle, particularly when feed efficiency is itself explicitly absent as a goal trait in the index. The objective of the present study was to quantify the differences in phenotypic performance for feed intake, feed efficiency, and carcass traits of crossbred bulls, steers, and heifers differing in a terminal total merit index. A validation population of 614 bulls, steers, and heifers that were evaluated for feed intake and efficiency in the same feedlot and subsequently slaughtered at the end of their test period was constructed. The Irish national genetic evaluations for a terminal index of calving performance, docility, feed intake, and carcass traits were undertaken with the phenotypic records of animals present in the validation population masked. The validation population animals were subsequently stratified into four groups, within sex, according to their terminal index value. Mixed models were used to quantify the association between terminal genetic merit and phenotypic performance; whether the associations differed by sex were also investigated. The regression coefficient of phenotypic feed intake, carcass weight, carcass conformation, or carcass fat on its respective estimated breeding values was 0.86 kg dry matter 0.91 kg, 1.01 units, and 1.29 units, respectively, which are close to the expectation of one. On average, cattle in the very high terminal index stratum had a 0.63 kg DM/d lower feed intake, a 25.05 kg heavier carcass, a 1.82 unit better carcass conformation (scale 1 to 15), and a 1.24 unit less carcass fat score (scale 1 to 15), relative to cattle in the very low terminal index stratum. Cattle of superior total genetic merit were also more feed efficient (i.e., had a lower energy conversion ratio, lower residual feed intake, and greater residual gain), had a greater proportion of their live-weight as carcass weight (i.e., better dressing percentage) and were slaughtered at a younger age relative to their inferior total genetic merit counterparts. This study provides validation of an all-encompassing total merit index and demonstrates the benefits of selection on a total merit index for feed and production efficiency, which should impart confidence among stakeholders in the contribution of genetic selection to simultaneous improvements in individual animal performance and efficiency.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 4341-4348
Author(s):  
Eric H C B Van Cleef ◽  
Solange Uwituze ◽  
Christian A Alvarado-Gilis ◽  
Kevin A Miller ◽  
Cadra L Van Bibber-Krueger ◽  
...  

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the inclusion of crude glycerin (CG) in diets for beef cattle. In Exp. 1, 4 ruminally cannulated steers were fed diets with 0 or 15% CG (DM basis), to evaluate DM disappearance, VFA profiles, and gas production. There was a tendency for an interaction (P = 0.06) between diet fed to donor animals and substrate fed to in vitro system, and digestion was increased when CG was added to cultures with ruminal fluid from CG-fed animals. Total VFA were unaffected by diets or by substrate incubated. The CG increased production of propionate, butyrate, and valerate (P < 0.01) while the gas production was unaffected (P = 0.16). In Exp. 2, 24 crossbred heifers (334.4 ± 0.9 kg BW) were fed the same diets as Exp. 1, for 35 d. Fecal grab samples were collected 3 times daily on day 7, 21, and 35, to evaluate total tract digestibilities of DM, OM, and NDF. The CG improved digestibility of diet OM (P = 0.04), and DM followed a similar trend (P = 0.06), while the NDF digestibility was unaffected (P = 0.29). In Exp. 3, crossbred heifers (n = 374; 375.8 ± 36.1 kg BW) were used to evaluate feedlot performance and carcass traits when fed diets with 0, 7.5, or 15% CG, with or without added 0.3% salt. Heifers were assigned to 25 pens and were harvested on day 125. Removing salt from CG-based diets did not impact performance (P = 0.50). The CG did not influence average daily gain (P = 0.27), but decreased DM intake (P = 0.003), USDA Yield Grade (P = 0.01), and improved feed efficiency (P = 0.03), while tended to decrease USDA prime carcasses (P = 0.10). Carcass weight (P = 0.24), Longissimus muscle area (P = 0.63), and kidney, pelvic, heart fat (P = 0.59) were unaffected by CG. Twelfth-rib fat was less for heifers fed 15% CG without salt compared with the other treatments (P = 0.005), while marbling was less for heifers fed CG diets compared with the control-fed animals (linear, P = 0.004; quadratic, P = 0.02). In conclusion, GC can replace dry-rolled corn in diets for beef heifers when fed at 15% of diet DM, improving OM digestion, increasing ruminal propionate and butyrate without affecting greenhouse gas emissions. Feeding up to 15% CG improves feed efficiency but depresses marbling and tends to decrease Quality Grade. Removing supplemental salt from CG-diets has no impact on performance or carcass traits.


2017 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
pp. 0
Author(s):  
V. M. Artegoitia ◽  
A. P. Foote ◽  
R. G. Tait ◽  
L. A. Kuehn ◽  
R. M. Lewis ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 2181-2187
Author(s):  
Ahmed A Elolimy ◽  
Emad Abdel-Hamied ◽  
Liangyu Hu ◽  
Joshua C McCann ◽  
Daniel W Shike ◽  
...  

Abstract Residual feed intake (RFI) is a widely used measure of feed efficiency in cattle. Although the precise biologic mechanisms associated with improved feed efficiency are not well-known, most-efficient steers (i.e., with low RFI coefficient) downregulate abundance of proteins controlling protein degradation in skeletal muscle. Whether cellular mechanisms controlling protein turnover in ruminal tissue differ by RFI classification is unknown. The aim was to investigate associations between RFI and signaling through the mechanistic target of rapamycin (MTOR) and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways in ruminal epithelium. One hundred and forty-nine Red Angus cattle were allocated to 3 contemporary groups according to sex and herd origin. Animals were offered a finishing diet for 70 d to calculate the RFI coefficient for each. Within each group, the 2 most-efficient (n = 6) and least-efficient animals (n = 6) were selected. Compared with least-efficient animals, the most-efficient animals consumed less feed (P &lt; 0.05; 18.36 vs. 23.39 kg/d DMI). At day 70, plasma samples were collected for insulin concentration analysis. Ruminal epithelium was collected immediately after slaughter to determine abundance and phosphorylation status of 29 proteins associated with MTOR, ubiquitin-proteasome, insulin signaling, and glucose and amino acid transport. Among the proteins involved in cellular protein synthesis, most-efficient animals had lower (P ≤ 0.05) abundance of MTOR, p-MTOR, RPS6KB1, EIF2A, EEF2K, AKT1, and RPS6KB1, whereas MAPK3 tended (P = 0.07) to be lower. In contrast, abundance of p-EEF2K, p-EEF2K:EEF2K, and p-EIF2A:EIF2A in most-efficient animals was greater (P ≤ 0.05). Among proteins catalyzing steps required for protein degradation, the abundance of UBA1, NEDD4, and STUB1 was lower (P ≤ 0.05) and MDM2 tended (P = 0.06) to be lower in most-efficient cattle. Plasma insulin and ruminal epithelium insulin signaling proteins did not differ (P &gt; 0.05) between RFI groups. However, abundance of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter SLC2A4 and the amino acid transporters SLC1A3 and SLC1A5 also was lower (P ≤ 0.05) in most-efficient cattle. Overall, the data indicate that differences in signaling mechanisms controlling protein turnover and nutrient transport in ruminal epithelium are components of feed efficiency in beef cattle.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 204-205
Author(s):  
Kathryn R Heffernan ◽  
Scott Speidel ◽  
Milt Thomas ◽  
Mark Enns ◽  
Tim Holt

Abstract Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can lead to premature mortality in fed cattle and is often called Feedlot Heart Disease (FHD). To date, pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) has been the only indicator trait of PH that has been evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate relationships between heart score (using heart score as a phenotype for PH) and PAP, carcass, and feed efficiency traits in fattening Angus steers. Our hypothesis was that feed efficiency and carcass traits, along with PAP, would demonstrate a strong relationship with heart score. Feed efficiency, carcass, PAP and heart score data from 89 Black Angus steers from Colorado State University Beef Improvement Center were collected and used for this study. Evaluations were performed using a multiple linear regression model, which included heart score as a categorical fixed effect and age as a continuous fixed effect. Least Square Means, pairwise comparisons, and ANOVA tables were constructed per trait. PAP (P &lt; 0.001) showed an important relationship to heart score and average dry matter (P &lt; 0.10) intake approached importance to heart score. In general, feed efficiency and carcass traits decreased as heart score increased, but PAP was the only trait with a strong relationship to heart score (P &lt; 0.05). This led us to reject our hypothesis.


Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 266
Author(s):  
Hossein Mehrban ◽  
Masoumeh Naserkheil ◽  
Deuk Hwan Lee ◽  
Chungil Cho ◽  
Taejeong Choi ◽  
...  

The weighted single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) method has been proposed to exploit information from genotyped and non-genotyped relatives, allowing the use of weights for single-nucleotide polymorphism in the construction of the genomic relationship matrix. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of genetic prediction using the following single-trait best linear unbiased prediction methods in Hanwoo beef cattle: pedigree-based (PBLUP), un-weighted (ssGBLUP), and weighted (WssGBLUP) single-step genomic methods. We also assessed the impact of alternative single and window weighting methods according to their effects on the traits of interest. The data was comprised of 15,796 phenotypic records for yearling weight (YW) and 5622 records for carcass traits (backfat thickness: BFT, carcass weight: CW, eye muscle area: EMA, and marbling score: MS). Also, the genotypic data included 6616 animals for YW and 5134 for carcass traits on the 43,950 single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The ssGBLUP showed significant improvement in genomic prediction accuracy for carcass traits (71%) and yearling weight (99%) compared to the pedigree-based method. The window weighting procedures performed better than single SNP weighting for CW (11%), EMA (11%), MS (3%), and YW (6%), whereas no gain in accuracy was observed for BFT. Besides, the improvement in accuracy between window WssGBLUP and the un-weighted method was low for BFT and MS, while for CW, EMA, and YW resulted in a gain of 22%, 15%, and 20%, respectively, which indicates the presence of relevant quantitative trait loci for these traits. These findings indicate that WssGBLUP is an appropriate method for traits with a large quantitative trait loci effect.


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