Dataset Information

Feed efficiency and carcass metrics in growing cattle1.

ABSTRACT: Some definitions of feed efficiency such as residual energy intake (REI) and residual gain (RG) may not truly reflect production efficiency. The energy sinks used in the derivation of the traits include metabolic live-weight; producers finishing cattle for slaughter are, however, paid on the basis of carcass weight, as opposed to live-weight. The objective of the present study was to explore alternative definitions of REI and RG which are more reflective of production efficiency, and quantify their relationship with performance, ultrasound, and carcass traits across multiple breeds and sexes of cattle. Feed intake and live-weight records were available on 5,172 growing animals, 2,187 of which also had information relating to carcass traits; all animals were fed a concentrate-based diet representative of a feedlot diet. Animal linear mixed models were used to estimate (co)variance components. Heritability estimates for all derived REI traits varied from 0.36 (REICWF; REI using carcass weight and carcass fat as energy sinks) to 0.50 (traditional REI derived with the energy sinks of both live-weight and ADG). The heritability for the RG traits varied from 0.24 to 0.34. Phenotypic correlations among all definitions of the REI traits ranged from 0.90 (REI with REICWF) to 0.99 (traditional REI with REI using metabolic preslaughter live-weight and ADG). All were different (P < 0.001) from one suggesting reranking of animals when using different definitions of REI to identify efficient cattle. The derived RG traits were either weakly or not correlated (P > 0.05) with the ultrasound and carcass traits. Genetic correlations between the REI traits with carcass weight, dressing difference (i.e., live-weight immediately preslaughter minus carcass weight) and dressing percentage (i.e., carcass weight divided by live-weight immediately preslaughter) implies that selection on any of the REI traits will increase carcass weight, lower the dressing difference and increase dressing percentage. Selection on REICW (REI using carcass weight as an energy sink), as opposed to traditional REI, should increase the carcass weight 2.2 times slower but reduce the dressing difference 4.3 times faster. While traditionally defined REI is informative from a research perspective, the ability to convert energy into live-weight gain does not necessarily equate to carcass gain, and as such, traits such as REICW and REICWF provide a better description of production efficiency for feedlot cattle.

SUBMITTER: Kelly DN

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6827399 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Feed efficiency and carcass metrics in growing cattle1.

Kelly David N DN Murphy Craig C Sleator Roy D RD Judge Michelle M MM Conroy Stephen B SB Berry Donagh P DP

Journal of animal science 20191101 11

Some definitions of feed efficiency such as residual energy intake (REI) and residual gain (RG) may not truly reflect production efficiency. The energy sinks used in the derivation of the traits include metabolic live-weight; producers finishing cattle for slaughter are, however, paid on the basis of carcass weight, as opposed to live-weight. The objective of the present study was to explore alternative definitions of REI and RG which are more reflective of production efficiency, and quantify th ...[more]

PMID: 31593986

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Project description:BackgroundThe emergence of antimicrobial resistance has necessitated the development of effective alternatives to antibiotics for livestock and poultry production. This study investigated a possible synergy between butyrate and forskolin (a natural labdane diterpene) in enhancing innate host defense, barrier function, disease resistance, growth performance, and meat quality of broilers.MethodsThe expressions of representative genes involved in host defense (AvBD9 and AvBD10), barrier function (MUC2, CLDN1, and TJP1), and inflammation (IL-1β) were measured in chicken HD11 macrophages in response to butyrate and forskolin in the presence or absence of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Intestinal lesions and the Clostridium perfringens titers were also assessed in C. perfringens-challenged chickens fed butyrate and forskolin-containing Coleus forskohlii (CF) extract individually or in combination. Furthermore, growth performance and carcass characteristics were evaluated in broilers supplemented with butyrate and the CF extract for 42 d.ResultsButyrate and forskolin synergistically induced the expressions of AvBD9, AvBD10, and MUC2 in chicken HD11 cells (P < 0.05) and the synergy was maintained in the presence of LPS. Butyrate and forskolin also suppressed LPS-induced IL-1β gene expression in HD11 cells in a synergistic manner (P < 0.05). The two compounds significantly reduced the intestinal lesions of C. perfringens-challenged chickens when combined (P < 0.05), but not individually. Furthermore, butyrate in combination with forskolin-containing CF extract had no influence on weight gain, but significantly reduced feed intake (P < 0.05) with a strong tendency to improve feed efficiency (P = 0.07) in a 42-d feeding trial. Desirably, the butyrate/forskolin combination significantly decreased abdominal fat deposition (P = 0.01) with no impact on the carcass yield, breast meat color, drip loss, or pH of d-42 broilers.ConclusionsButyrate and forskolin has potential to be developed as novel antibiotic alternatives to improve disease resistance, feed efficiency, and carcass composition of broilers.

Project description:Improvement of feed efficiency would increase profitability of the poultry industries by decreasing the amount of feed required for production. Korat (KR) chicken is a new alternative meat-type chicken breed which its meat is recognized for its high protein, low fat and low purine content, whereas its low feed efficiency leads to high cost of production. Deeper understanding on how feed efficiency influences meat quality is poorly elucidated. To fulfill deeper understand molecular key that point the variation in feed efficiency and meat quality, the aim of this study was to investigate molecular pathways and genes involved in feed efficiency and meat quality in thigh of slow-growing KR chicken. A total of 75 males KR chicken were reared in individual cage until 10 weeks of age. Individual feed intake and body weight were collected weekly to calculate Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) and Residual Feed Intake (RFI). Meat quality parameters were measured in thigh muscles such as ultimate pH (pHu), water-holding capacity (WHC), drip loss (DL), nucleotides content and several biomolecules (amide, …). Base on extreme values of FCR at 10 weeks of ages, 12 birds from the high FCR group (HFCR) and 9 birds from the low FCR group (LFCR) were selected for investigating their transcriptome using an 8×60K Agilent chicken microarray. In addition, a weighted gene coexpression network analysis was performed to detect the relationship between modules of co-expressed genes and feed efficiency, meat quality in thigh muscle. The result in this study indicated that selection on feed efficiency (FCR, RFI) would affect flavor precursor, lipid and protein content in thigh muscle. Based on WGCNA and functional enrichment analysis, results suggested that the key molecular pathways relate to FCR, RFI and meat quality (WHC, DL, IMP, AMP and inosine) in thigh muscle were the pathways of regulation of biological process, biological regulation and regulation of metabolic. Moreover, we revealed four genes there are assembly competence domain (ACD) gene, baculoviral IAP repeat containing 5 (BIRC5) gene, cytochrome c oxidase assembly factor 3 (COA3) gene and myosin light chain 9 (MYL9) gene that might be biomarker gene in feed efficiency and meat quality in thigh muscle. The hypothesis of the current study was alteration feed efficiency in slow-growing chicken will impact meat quality especially in term of texture and flavor.

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Feed efficiency and carcass metrics in growing cattle1.

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Feed efficiency and carcass metrics in growing cattle1.

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