Project description:We applied an untargeted metabolomics technique to analyze the plasma carboxyl-metabolome of beef steers with divergent average daily gain (ADG). Forty-eight newly weaned Angus crossbred beef steers were fed the same total mixed ration ad libitum for 42 days. On day 42, the steers were divided into two groups of lowest (LF: n = 8) and highest ADG (HF: n = 8), and blood samples were obtained from the two groups for plasma preparation. Relative quantification of carboxylic-acid-containing metabolites in the plasma samples was determined using a metabolomics technique based on chemical isotope labeling liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Metabolites that differed (fold change (FC) ≥ 1.2 or ≤ 0.83 and FDR ≤ 0.05) between LF and HF were identified using a volcano plot. Metabolite set enrichment analysis (MSEA) of the differential metabolites was done to determine the metabolic pathways or enzymes that were potentially altered. In total, 328 metabolites were identified. Volcano plot analysis revealed 43 differentially abundant metabolites; several short chain fatty acids and ketone bodies had greater abundance in HF steers. Conversely, several long chain fatty acids were greater in LF steers. Five enzymatic pathways, such as fatty acyl CoA elongation and fatty-acid CoA ligase were altered based on MSEA. This study demonstrated that beef steers with divergent ADG had altered plasma carboxyl-metabolome, which is possibly caused by altered abundances and/or activities of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation and biosynthesis in the liver.
Project description:BackgroundAverage daily gain (ADG) is an important trait that contributes to the production efficiency and economic benefits in the beef cattle industry. The molecular mechanisms of ADG have not yet been fully explored because most recent association studies for ADG are based on SNPs or haplotypes. We reported a systematic CNV discovery and association analysis for ADG in Chinese Simmental beef cattle.ResultsOur study identified 4912 nonredundant CNVRs with a total length of ~ 248.7 Mb, corresponding to ~ 8.9% of the cattle genome. Using probe-based CNV association, we identified 24 and 12 significant SNP probes within five deletions and two duplications for ADG, respectively. Among them, we found one common deletion with 89 kb imbedded in LHFPL Tetraspan Subfamily Member 6 (LHFPL6) at 22.9 Mb on BTA12, which has high frequency (12.9%) dispersing across population. CNV selection test using VST statistic suggested this common deletion may be under positive selection in Chinese Simmental cattle. Moreover, this deletion was not overlapped with any candidate SNP for ADG compared with previous SNPs-based association studies, suggesting its important role for ADG. In addition, we identified one rare deletion near gene Growth Factor Receptor-bound Protein 10 (GRB10) at 5.1 Mb on BTA4 for ADG using both probe-based association and region-based approaches.ConclusionsOur results provided some valuable insights to elucidate the genetic basis of ADG in beef cattle, and these findings offer an alternative perspective to understand the genetic mechanism of complex traits in terms of copy number variations in farm animals.
Project description:Nelore is the most economically important cattle breed in Brazil, and the use of genetically improved animals has contributed to increased beef production efficiency. The Brazilian beef feedlot industry has grown considerably in the last decade, so the selection of animals with higher growth rates on feedlot has become quite important. Genomic selection (GS) could be used to reduce generation intervals and improve the rate of genetic gains. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prediction of genomic-estimated breeding values (GEBV) for average daily weight gain (ADG) in 718 feedlot-finished Nelore steers. Analyses of three Bayesian model specifications [Bayesian GBLUP (BGBLUP), BayesA, and BayesCπ] were performed with four genotype panels [Illumina BovineHD BeadChip, TagSNPs, and GeneSeek High- and Low-density indicus (HDi and LDi, respectively)]. Estimates of Pearson correlations, regression coefficients, and mean squared errors were used to assess accuracy and bias of predictions. Overall, the BayesCπ model resulted in less biased predictions. Accuracies ranged from 0.18 to 0.27, which are reasonable values given the heritability estimates (from 0.40 to 0.44) and sample size (568 animals in the training population). Furthermore, results from Bos taurus indicus panels were as informative as those from Illumina BovineHD, indicating that they could be used to implement GS at lower costs.
Project description:To address the shortcomings of cystoscopy and urine cytology for detecting and grading bladder cancer (BC), ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with Q-TOF mass spectrometry in conjunction with univariate and multivariate statistical analyses was employed as an alternative method for the diagnosis of BC. A series of differential serum metabolites were further identified for low-grade(LG) and high-grade(HG) BC patients, suggesting metabolic dysfunction in malignant proliferation, immune escape, differentiation, apoptosis and invasion of cancer cells in BC patients. In total, three serum metabolites including inosine, acetyl-N-formyl-5-methoxykynurenamine and PS(O-18:0/0:0) were selected by binary logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) test based on their combined use for HG BC showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.961 in the discovery set and 0.950 in the validation set when compared to LG BC. Likewise, this composite biomarker panel can also differentiate LG BC from healthy controls with the AUC of 0.993 and 0.991 in the discovery and validation set, respectively. This finding suggested that this composite serum metabolite signature was a promising and less invasive classifier for probing and grading BC, which deserved to be further investigated in larger samples.
Project description:BackgroundBackgrounding (BKG), the stage between weaning and finishing, significantly impacts feedlot performance in beef cattle; however, the contributions of the rumen microbiome to this growth stage remain unexplored. A longitudinal study was designed to assess how BKG affects rumen bacterial communities and average daily gain (ADG) in beef cattle. At weaning, 38 calves were randomly assigned to three BKG systems for 55 days (d): a high roughage diet within a dry lot (DL, n = 13); annual cover crop within a strip plot (CC, n = 13); and perennial pasture vegetation within rotational paddocks (PP, n = 12), as before weaning. After BKG, all calves were placed in a feedlot for 142 d and finished with a high energy ration. Calves were weighed periodically from weaning to finishing to determine ADG. Rumen bacterial communities were profiled by collecting fluid samples via oral probe and sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene, at weaning, during BKG and finishing.ResultsRumen bacterial communities diverged drastically among calves once they were placed in each BKG system, including sharp decreases in alpha diversity for CC and DL calves only (P < 0.001). During BKG, DL calves showed a substantial increase of Proteobacteria (Succinivibrionaceae family) (P < 0.001), which also corresponded with greater ADG (P < 0.05). At the finishing stage, Proteobacteria bloomed for all calves, with no previous alpha or beta diversity differences being retained between groups. However, at finishing, PP calves showed a compensatory ADG, particularly greater than that in calves coming from DL BKG (P = 0.02). Microbiome network traits such as lower average shortest path length, and increased neighbor connectivity, degree, number and strength of bacterial interactions between rumen bacteria better predicted ADG during BKG and finishing than variation in specific taxonomic profiles.ConclusionsBacterial co-abundance interactions, as measured by network theory approaches, better predicted growth performance in beef cattle during BKG and finishing, than the abundance of specific taxa. These findings underscore the importance of early post weaning stages as potential targets for feeding interventions that can enhance metabolic interactions between rumen bacteria, to increase productive performance in beef cattle.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:Average daily gain (ADG) is an important target trait of pig breeding programs. We aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genomic regions that are associated with ADG in the Duroc pig population. METHODS:We performed a genome-wide association study involving 390 Duroc boars and by using the PorcineSNP60K Beadchip and two linear models. RESULTS:After quality control, we detected 3,5971 SNPs, which included seven SNPs that are significantly associated with the ADG of pigs. We identified six quantitative trait loci (QTL) regions for ADG. These QTLs included four previously reported QTLs on Sus scrofa chromosome (SSC) 1, SSC5, SSC9, and SSC13, as well as two novel QTLs on SSC6 and SSC16. In addition, we selected six candidate genes (general transcription factor 3C polypeptide 5, high mobility group AT-hook 2, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1, pleckstrin homology and RhoGEF domain containing G4B, and ENSSSCG00000031548) associated with ADG on the basis of their physiological roles and positional information. These candidate genes are involved in skeletal muscle cell differentiation, diet-induced obesity, and nervous system development. CONCLUSION:This study contributes to the identification of the casual mutation that underlies QTLs associated with ADG and to future pig breeding programs based on marker-assisted selection. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of the identified candidate genes in the physiological processes involved in ADG regulation.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Indirect genetic effects (IGE) are important components of various traits in several species. Although the intensity of social interactions between partners likely vary over time, very few genetic studies have investigated how IGE vary over time for traits under selection in livestock species. To overcome this issue, our aim was: (1) to analyze longitudinal records of average daily gain (ADG) in rabbits subjected to a 5-week period of feed restriction using a structured antedependence (SAD) model that includes IGE and (2) to evaluate, by simulation, the response to selection when IGE are present and genetic evaluation is based on a SAD model that includes IGE or not. RESULTS:The direct genetic variance for ADG (g/d) increased from week 1 to 3 [from 8.03 to 13.47 (g/d)2] and then decreased [6.20 (g/d)2 at week 5], while the indirect genetic variance decreased from week 1 to 4 [from 0.43 to 0.22 (g/d)2]. The correlation between the direct genetic effects of different weeks was moderate to high (ranging from 0.46 to 0.86) and tended to decrease with time interval between measurements. The same trend was observed for IGE for weeks 2 to 5 (correlations ranging from 0.62 to 0.91). Estimates of the correlation between IGE of week 1 and IGE of the other weeks did not follow the same pattern and correlations were lower. Estimates of correlations between direct and indirect effects were negative at all times. After seven generations of simulated selection, the increase in ADG from selection on EBV from a SAD model that included IGE was higher (~?30%) than when those effects were omitted. CONCLUSIONS:Indirect genetic effects are larger just after mixing animals at weaning than later in the fattening period, probably because of the establishment of social hierarchy that is generally observed at that time. Accounting for IGE in the selection criterion maximizes genetic progress.
Project description:Colonization of gastrointestinal microbiota in mammals during early life is vital to host health. The objective of this study was to investigate whether lambs with high and low ADG have a different rumen and rectum microbial community. Thus, we investigated potential relationships between rumen and rectum microbiota and average daily gain (ADG) in weaned lambs. Sixteen lambs with similar body weights (7.63 ± 1.18 kg) were selected at 30 days of age. At 60 days of age, lambs were weaned, and ADG was calculated from 60 to 90 days. Then, two groups were generated: higher ADG (HG, 134.17 ± 13.48 g/day) and lower ADG (LG, 47.50 ± 19.51 g/day). Microbiota was evaluated at 30, 60, and 90 days of age. The final live weight and ADG at 90 days of age was higher (p < 0.05) in the HG group compared to the LG group. The maturity of bacterial and fungal communities was increased (p < 0.05) in the HG group for the 30 days vs. 90 days comparison and 60 days vs. 90 days comparison. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis revealed a total of 18 bacterial biomarkers that are ADG-specific in the rumen and 35 bacterial biomarkers in the rectum. Meanwhile, 15 fungal biomarkers were found in the rumen and 8 biomarkers were found in the rectum. Our findings indicated that ADG is related to the rumen and rectum microbiota in lambs.
Project description:BackgroundBovine respiratory disease (BRD) is 1 of the 2 most important causes of morbidity and mortality in dairy calves. Surprisingly, field data are scant concerning the prevalence of respiratory pathogens involved in BRD in preweaned dairy calves, especially in small herds.ObjectivesTo identify the main respiratory pathogens isolated from calves in Québec dairy herds with a high incidence of BRD, and to determine if there is an association between the presence of these pathogens and clinical signs of pneumonia, lung consolidation, or average daily gain.AnimalsCross-sectional study using a convenience sample of 95 preweaned dairy calves from 11 dairy herds.MethodsAt enrollment, calves were weighed, clinically examined, swabbed (nasal and nasopharyngeal), and lung ultrasonography was performed. One month later, all calves were reweighed.ResultsTwenty-two calves had clinical BRD and 49 had ultrasonographic evidence of lung consolidation. Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, and Histophilus somni were isolated in 54, 17, and 12 calves, respectively. Mycoplasma bovis was identified by PCR testing or culture in 19 calves, and 78 calves were found to be positive for Mycoplasma spp. Bovine coronavirus was detected in 38 calves and bovine respiratory syncytial virus in 1. Only the presence of M. bovis was associated with higher odds of clinical signs, lung consolidation, and lower average daily gain.Conclusions and clinical importanceResults suggested that nasopharyngeal carriage of M. bovis was detrimental to health and growth of dairy calves in small herds with a high incidence of BRD.
Project description:Mutton and lamb sales continue to grow globally at a rate of 5% per year. However, sheep farming struggles with low profit margins due to high feed costs and modest carcass yields. Selecting those sheep expected to convert feed efficiently and have high carcass merit, as early as possible in their life cycle, could significantly improve the profitability of sheep farming. Unfortunately, direct measurement of feed conversion efficiency (via residual feed intake [RFI]) and carcass merit is a labor-intensive and expensive procedure. Thus, indirect, marker-assisted evaluation of these traits has been explored as a means of reducing the cost of its direct measurement. One promising and potentially inexpensive route to discover biomarkers of RFI and/or carcass merit is metabolomics. Using quantitative metabolomics, we profiled the blood serum metabolome (i.e., the sum of all measurable metabolites) associated with sheep RFI and carcass merit and identified candidate biomarkers of these traits. The study included 165 crossbred ram-lambs that underwent direct measurement of feed consumption to determine their RFI classification (i.e., low vs. high) using the GrowSafe System over a period 40 d. Carcass merit was evaluated after slaughter using standardized methods. Prior to being sent to slaughter, one blood sample was drawn from each animal, and serum prepared and frozen at -80 °C to limit metabolite degradation. A subset of the serum samples was selected based on divergent RFI and carcass quality for further metabolomic analyses. The analyses were conducted using three analytical methods (nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, and inductively coupled mass spectrometry), which permitted the identification and quantification of 161 unique metabolites. Biomarker analyses identified three significant (P < 0.05) candidate biomarkers of sheep RFI (AUC = 0.80), seven candidate biomarkers of carcass yield grade (AUC = 0.77), and one candidate biomarker of carcass muscle-to-bone ratio (AUC = 0.74). The identified biomarkers appear to have roles in regulating energy metabolism and protein synthesis. These results suggest that serum metabolites could be used to categorize and predict sheep for their RFI and carcass merit. Further validation using a larger (3×) and more diverse cohort of sheep is required to confirm these findings.