The use of feedlot/cereal grains in improving feed efficiency and reducing by-products such as methane in ruminants

Hales, K C; Lourenço, Jeferson M.; Seidel, Darren S.; Koyun, Osman Y.; Stewart, R. L.; Welch, Christina B; Wells, John W.; Callaway, Todd R.

doi:10.19103/as.2020.0067.23

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…In the present study, the ratio of acetate-to-propionate decreased throughout the life of the steers, regardless of their efficiency status, reflecting the dietary composition as a key factor in these changes. The acetate-to-propionate ratio was decreased in ruminants fed a high concentrate diet (reflective of an increase in propionate production) compared to cattle fed a high forage diet ( 27 , 74 , 75 ). Although our measurements were made in the fecal material, still, the acetate-to-propionate ratio was highest when the steers consumed predominantly pasture and was lower when the steers were fed a feedlot ration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Evaluation of the Fecal Bacterial Communities of Angus Steers With Divergent Feed Efficiencies Across the Lifespan From Weaning to Slaughter

et al. 2021

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Numerous studies have examined the link between the presence of specific gastrointestinal bacteria and the feed efficiency of cattle. However, cattle undergo dietary changes during their productive life which can cause fluctuations in their microbial consortium. The objective of the present study was to assess changes in the fecal microbiome of beef steers genetically selected to be divergent in feedlot feed efficiency, to determine whether differences in their fecal microbiomes could be detected as early as weaning, and continued throughout the rearing process regardless of dietary changes. Fecal samples were collected at weaning, yearling age, and slaughter for a group of 63 steers. Based on their feedlot-finishing performance, the steers were selected and divided into two groups according to their residual feed intake (RFI): efficient steers (low-RFI; n = 7) and inefficient steers (high-RFI; n = 8). To ascertain the fecal microbial consortium and volatile fatty acid (VFA) content, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and VFA analysis were performed. Overall, bacterial evenness and diversity were greater at weaning compared to yearling and slaughter for both efficiency groups (P < 0.001). Feedlot RFI linearly decreased as both Shannon diversity and Ruminococcaceae abundance increased (R2 = 65.6 and 60.7%, respectively). Abundances of Ruminococcaceae, Rikenellaceae, and Christensenellaceae were higher at weaning vs. yearling age and slaughter (P < 0.001); moreover, these families were consistently more abundant in the feces of the low-RFI steers (for most of the timepoints evaluated; P ≤ 0.05), compared to the high-RFI steers. Conversely, abundances of Bifidobacteriaceae were numerically higher in the feces of the high-RFI steers throughout their lifespan. Total VFA concentrations increased at slaughter compared to weaning and yearling for both efficiency groups (P < 0.001). The acetate:propionate ratio decreased linearly (P < 0.001) throughout the life of the steers regardless of their efficiency, reflective of dietary changes. Our results indicate that despite fluctuations due to animal age and dietary changes, specific bacterial families may be correlated with feed efficiency of steers. Furthermore, such differences may be identifiable at earlier stages of the production cycle, potentially as early as weaning.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Evaluation of the Fecal Bacterial Communities of Angus Steers With Divergent Feed Efficiencies Across the Lifespan From Weaning to Slaughter

et al. 2021

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“…The rumen microbial consortium is a very effective, co-evolved ecosystem containing a wide range of enzymes and microorganisms involved in an efficient breakdown of cbS [21,22]. Organic matter is fermented to short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), with carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methane (CH 4 ) produced as by-products [23]. In the rumen, methane is mainly formed via the hydrogenotrophic pathway from H 2 and CO 2 released during fermentation [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaerobic Digestion of Hemp and Flax Straw and Shives and Rapeseed Straw by the Ruminal Microbiota

Figueiredo,

Brede,

Heller

et al. 2023

Bioenerg. Res.

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To mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy supply security, there is an increasing effort toward the use of non-fossil energy sources. Crop residues have a great potential to be exploited as biomass for biogas production. However, due to their lignocellulosic structures they are difficult to degrade and do not reach competitive performance. A feasible option to mine these substrates is present in the forestomach of ruminants. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to use rumen microorganisms to improve anaerobic digestion (AD) of crop residues. For this purpose, hemp straw, mechanically pre-treated hemp fibers and shives, flax straw, flax shives, and aged and fresh rapeseed straw were evaluated using the rumen simulation technique. The AD of the substrates was divided into three batches. In two batches, hay was added as a control substrate. In summary, none of the analyzed substrates had an equivalent performance as the control hay, but pre-treated hemp fibers and shives had better AD parameters compared to all other alternative substrates, with the lowest pH (mean: 6.81), highest short chain fatty acid (20.0 mmol/day) and H2 production (25.6 mM) and highest degradability (25.2%). Flax straw had the second-best performance (6.81, 17.4 mmol/day, 20.6 mM and 22.2%, respectively), followed by fresh rapeseed straw, hemp straw, aged rapeseed straw and flax shives. Therefore, hemp fibers and shives demonstrated to be the most suitable substrates for AD. However, since pre-treatment can represent significant additional costs for biogas production, flax straw also demonstrated to be a good alternative.

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The impact of feed efficiency selection on the ruminal, cecal, and fecal microbiomes of Angus steers from a commercial feedlot

Welch

Lourenço

Stewart

et al. 2020

Journal of Animal Science

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Feed is the greatest cost of animal production so reducing it is critical to increase producer profits. In ruminants, the microbial population within the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is critical to nutrient digestion and absorption in both the rumen and the hindgut. The objective of this study was to determine the bacterial taxonomic profile of the rumen, cecum, and feces of feedlot steers at slaughter in order to link feed efficiency and the GIT bacterial populations from these 3 locations. Twenty commercial Angus steers were selected and divided into two groups according to their residual feed intake (RFI) classification determined during the feedlot-finishing period: high-RFI (n=10) and low-RFI (n=10). After the ruminal, cecal, and fecal samples were collected at slaughter, DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were performed on them to determine their bacterial composition. One-way ANOVA was performed on the animal performance data, alpha diversities, and bacterial abundances using RFI classification as the fixed effect. Overall, the ruminal bacterial population was the most different in terms of taxonomic profile compared to the cecal and fecal populations as revealed by beta diversity analysis (P<0.001). Moreover, bacterial richness (Chao1) was greatest (P=0.01) in the rumen of the high-RFI group compared to the low-RFI group. In contrast, bacterial richness and diversity in the intestinal environment showed that Chao1 was greater (P=0.01) in the cecum, and Shannon diversity index was greater in both the cecum and feces of low-RFI compared to high-RFI steers (P=0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). Ruminococcaceae was more abundant in the low-RFI group in the cecum and feces (P=0.01); and fecal Bifidobacteriaceae was more abundant in high-RFI steers (P=0.03). No correlations (P≥0.13) between any ruminal bacterial family and RFI were detected; however, Ruminococcaeae, Mogibacteriaceae, Christensenellaceae, and BS11 were negatively correlated with RFI (P<0.05) in the cecum and feces. Succinivibrionaceae in the cecum was positively correlated with RFI (P=0.05), and fecal Bifidobacteriaceae was positively correlated with RFI (P=0.03). Results collectively indicate that in addition to the ruminal bacteria, the lower gut bacterial population has a significant impact on feed efficiency and nutrient utilization in feedlot steers, therefore the intestinal bacteria should also be considered when examining the basis of ruminant feed efficiency.

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The use of feedlot/cereal grains in improving feed efficiency and reducing by-products such as methane in ruminants

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Evaluation of the Fecal Bacterial Communities of Angus Steers With Divergent Feed Efficiencies Across the Lifespan From Weaning to Slaughter

Evaluation of the Fecal Bacterial Communities of Angus Steers With Divergent Feed Efficiencies Across the Lifespan From Weaning to Slaughter

Anaerobic Digestion of Hemp and Flax Straw and Shives and Rapeseed Straw by the Ruminal Microbiota

The impact of feed efficiency selection on the ruminal, cecal, and fecal microbiomes of Angus steers from a commercial feedlot

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