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Meta-analysis of endophyte-infected tall fescue effects on cattle growth rates.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to quantitatively summarize literature reporting endophyte-infected (Neotyphodium coenophialum) tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) effects on cattle ADG. This meta-analysis evaluated endophyte infection level, climate, and forage yield using a literature dataset of 138 treatments from 20 articles. Three infection level measurements were tested: endophyte infection as a percentage of infected tillers (E%); ergovaline concentration in ppb ([E]); and total ergot alkaloid concentration ([TEA]). Three types of climate variables were used: base values (temperature, humidity, and relative humidity), climate indices (heat index and temperature-heat index [THI]), and novel climate variables accounting for duration of climate effects. Mixed effect models, weighted by 1/SEM, including a random effect of study were built for each factorial combination of measurement method and climate variable group. Because many studies were missing SEM, two datasets were used: one containing only data with SEM reported and one that also included missing-SEM data. For the complete-SEM dataset (CSD), models were weighted by 1/SEM. In the missing-SEM dataset (MSD) the mean reported 1/SEM was assigned as the weight for all missing SEM treatments. Although 18 initial models were created (2 × 3 × 3 factorial approach), the backward stepwise derivation resulted in models that included only endophyte infection level, suggesting a negative relationship between infection level and ADG. The CSD models predicted ADG to decrease 39 and 33 g/d with each increase of 100 ppb of [TEA] and [E], and by 39 g/d for each increase of 10% E%. In the MSD dataset, predicted ADG decreased by 39 and 33 g/d with each increase of 100 ppb of [TEA] and [E], and by 47 g/d for each increase of 10% E%. All relationships reported had P < 0.05. After visual inspection of the data, piecewise regression was used to identify an infection threshold (IT) of 60 ppb [E] and 11 E%, where the effect of infection level was constant on either side of the IT. The ADG was 40% and 49% greater for infection levels below the IT for [E] and E%, respectively. Across THI values in the analysis, ADG decreases ranged from 11.2% to 45.0% for cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue compared to non-ergot alkaloid endophyte infected tall fescue. Pasture E%, [E], and [TEA] have a negative relationship with ADG in growing cattle, and increasing temperature decreases ADG when infection level is greater than the IT.

SUBMITTER: Liebe DM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6140958 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Fescue toxicosis is a multifaceted syndrome common in cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue and is detrimental to growth and performance. Recent research has shown that supplementing protein has the potential to enhance growth performance in weaned steers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplemental CP on physiological parameters in stocker steers experiencing fescue toxicosis. Thirty-six weaned Angus steers (6 mo of age) stratified by weight (196.1 ± 3.6 kg) were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement for 56 d: endophyte-free (EF) seed and 14% CP (EF-14; n = 9), EF seed and 18% CP (EF-18; n = 9), endophyte-infected (EI) seed and 14% CP (EI-14; n = 9), and EI seed and 18% CP (EI-18; n = 9). Steer growth and hemodynamic responses were collected weekly during ergot alkaloid exposure. On day 14 of the trial, iButton temperature data loggers were subcutaneously inserted in the lateral neck region to record hourly body temperature for 42 d. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS with repeated measures. No differences were observed in DMI, BW, ADG, F:G, or BCS during the treatment period (P > 0.05). Hair shedding scores, rectal temperatures, surface temperatures, and respiration rates were greater in EI steers compared to EF steers regardless of supplemental CP (P < 0.05). However, subcutaneous body temperature was greater in EI-14 steers (37.94 °C) compared to other steer groups (37.60, 37.68, 37.72 ± 0.04 °C for EF-14, EF-18, and EI-18, respectively; P < 0.05). Prolactin concentrations tended to be greater in EF steers when compared to EI steers (P = 0.07). Heart rate and hematocrit were reduced for EI-18 steers compared to other steer groups (P < 0.05). Caudal artery diameter was reduced in EI-18 steers compared to EI-14 steers (2.60 vs. 2.75 ± 0.05 mm, respectively; P < 0.05) and caudal vein diameter was reduced in EI-18 steers (3.20 mm) compared to all other steer groups (3.36, 3.39, 3.50 mm for EF-14, EF-18, and EI-14, respectively; P < 0.05). However, there was no difference observed in systolic or diastolic blood pressure during the treatment period (P > 0.05). Based on the data, exposure to low to moderate levels of ergot alkaloids during the stocker phase had a negative impact on hemodynamic responses and supplemental CP had minimal impact to alleviate symptoms. Therefore, feeding additional protein above established requirements is not expected to help alleviate fescue toxicosis.

Project description:Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) is a cool-season perennial grass that is widely used as a forage for many livestock species including sheep. An endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) in tall fescue produces ergot alkaloids that enhance plant survival but produce toxicosis in animals. The objective of this study was to investigate the rumen microbiota from gestation and lactation in ewes grazing tall fescue pastures with high (HA) or moderate (MA) levels of endophyte infection, and their relationship with serum parameters. Data were collected at the beginning of the study (d1), the week before initiation of lambing (d51), and at the end of the trial (d115). The rumen microbiota was evaluated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Ewes grazing HA had greater serum non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) (P = 0.024) levels compared with ewes in MA pasture at d115. Both the number of observed OTUs and Shannon diversity index tended (P = 0.08, P = 0.06) to be greater for HA than for MA on d115. At the genus level, Prevotella relative abundance increased with time in both MA and HA (on d1, d51, and d115: 15.17, 25.59, and 24.78% in MA; 14.17, 18.10, and 19.41% in HA). Taxa unclassified at the genus level including (unclassified) Lachnospiraceae, Coriobacteriaceae, and Veillonellaceae exhibited higher abundances in HA at d51 (3.72, 2.07, and 11.22%) compared with MA (2.06, 1.28, and 7.42%). The predictor microbiota for HA and MA were identified by a random forest classification model. The HA predictors included bacteria associated with unclassified Coriobacteriaceae and Ruminococcaceae. Other OTUs classified as Prevotella and Clostridiales could be microbial predictors for MA. The OTUs classified as Prevotella and Lachnospiraceae were negatively correlated with serum concentration of prolactin. Negative correlations with NEFA were observed in the microbiota such as species affiliated to unclassified Clostridiales and Prevotella. OTUs classified as Bacteroidetes and Coriobacteriaceae exhibited a positive correlation with NEFA. Our study confirmed that the rumen microbiota populations were affected by high levels of toxins in endophyte-infected tall fescue and were associated with host hormone and energy metabolism.

Project description:Fescue toxicosis is a multifaceted syndrome common in cattle grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue that affects performance; however, little information is available pertaining to its effects on immunity. Recently, it has been shown that supplemental CP can improve performance in weaned steers postvaccination. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplemental CP on innate and adaptive immune responses in stocker steers chronically exposed to ergovaline. Angus steers (n = 12 pens; 3 steers/pen) were stratified by weight and assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to examine crude protein levels of supplement (14% or 18%) and ergovaline exposure (0 or 185 ?g ergovaline/kg BW/d via ground endophyte-free (EF) or endophyte-infected (EI) tall fescue seed, respectively) on immune response. Consumption of low to moderate concentration of ergovaline from EI tall fescue seed was sufficient to induce mild symptoms associated with fescue toxicosis. Blood samples were collected at day 0, 42, and 56 to evaluate infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 1b titers following vaccine challenge. Additionally, serum cytokine concentrations were evaluated using Quantibody Bovine Cytokine Arrays on day 0, 28, and 42. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS with repeated measures. Regardless of treatment, no differences were observed in IBR and BVDV-1b seroconversion following vaccine challenge (P > 0.05). Regardless of crude protein concentration, EI steers had greater concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-?, IFN-?, IL-1?), chemokines (CCL2, CCL4, MIG), anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, -13, -15, -21), and various growth factors (FGF-1, IGF-1, VEGF-A) when compared to EF steers (P < 0.05). Furthermore, VEGF-A and IGF-1 concentrations were greater in EI-14 steers on day 28 compared to EI-18, EF-14, and EF-18 steers (P < 0.05), however, this difference was not observed on day 0 or 42 (P > 0.05). Based on these data, steers exposed to ergovaline have an increase in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and supplemental CP had minimal impact to mitigate this response. However, in the current study, exposure to ergovaline had little to no effect on adaptive immunity and response to vaccination. Together, chronic exposure to ergovaline results in a hyperactive innate immune response, which may lead to an immuno-compromised animal.

Project description:Tall fescue KY-31 is an important primary forage for beef cattle. It carries a fungal endophyte that produces ergovaline, the main cause of tall fescue toxicosis that leads to major revenue loss for livestock producers. The MaxQ, an engineered cultivar, hosts an ergovaline nonproducing strain of the fungus and consequently is nontoxic. However, it is less attractive economically. It is not known how rumen microbiome processes these two forages towards nutrient generation and ergovaline transformation. We have analysed the rumen microbiome compositions of cattle that grazed MaxQ with an intervening KY-31 grazing period using the 16S rRNA-V4 element as an identifier and found that KY-31 remodelled the microbiome substantially, encompassing both cellulolytic and saccharolytic functions. The effect was not evident at the whole microbiome levels but was identified by analysing the sessile and planktonic fractions separately. A move from MaxQ to KY-31 lowered the Firmicutes abundance in the sessile fraction and increased it in planktonic part and caused an opposite effect for Bacteroidetes, although the total abundances of these dominant rumen organisms remained unchanged. The abundances of Fibrobacter , which degrades less degradable fibres, and certain cellulolytic Firmicutes such as Pseudobutyrivibrio and Butyrivibrio 2, dropped in the sessile fraction, and these losses were apparently compensated by increased occurrences of Eubacterium and specific Ruminococcaceae and Lachnospiraceae . A return to MaxQ restored the original Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes distributions. However, several KY-31 induced changes, such as the low abundance of Fibrobacter and Butyrivibrio two remained in place, and their substitutes maintained significant presence. The rumen microbiome was distinct from previously reported faecal microbiomes. In summary, KY-31 and MaxQ were digested in the cattle rumen with distinct consortia and the KY-31-specific features were dominant. The study also identified candidate ergovaline transforming bacteria. It highlighted the importance of analysing sessile and planktonic fractions separately.

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Meta-analysis of endophyte-infected tall fescue effects on cattle growth rates.

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