Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Brief summary of minutes of annual meeting:

Meeting was called to order at 11:00 am MST.

Participants introduced themselves

Dr. Jennifer Thomson provided a brief background of the group and the need to get the group going again.

Dr. Chris Davies – Project Administrator provided some introductory comments on Multi-state projects and reminded of the directives for the project.

Brief station reports were provided by: Dr. Jennifer Thomson - Montana State University, Dr. Mark Enns– Colorado State University, Dr. Lauren Hanna – North Dakota State University.

Dr. Robert Godrey- NIFA representative presented an update on NIFA activities and staffing, the NIFA budget and competitive programs.

Following that report, the annual business meeting was conducted.

• Dr. Lauren Hanna agreed to host the next meeting.
• Dr. Thomson committed to provide a template and requested reports by Jan 10.
• A discussion was held to discuss recruitment, funding opportunities and opportunities for collaboration.
• Dr. Thomson commented on creating a shared set of teaching resources for undergraduate genetics courses.

Meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:00 pm MST.

Objective 1: Develop, disseminate, and maintain resources for understanding genetics of beef cattle; specifically, topics of adaptability and retained heterosis

Short-term Outcomes.  At Colorado State University, a large preliminary dataset has been leveraged to study the genetic causes of feedlot heart failure.

Outputs.  Research at Montana State University is evaluating muscle and adipose tissue gene expression and metabolites during the late feedlot fattening period in steers. This will be used to better understand how fattening is regulated so a specific carcass quality grade can be achieved and to allow precision management of feedlot cattle. Additionally, a Montana project is evaluating metabolic rate, body temperature, heart rate, circulating metabolites and liver gene expression throughout two yearly production cycles with samples taken in each season and three samples taken during the winter in both supplemented and grazing cows.

At North Dakota State University, publications and outreach presentations have been developed. 

At Colorado State University, veterinarians  have been educated about and trained on the relationship of PAP and pulmonary hypertension.

At South Dakota State University, they evaluated a pooled SNP genotyping tool that could be used for genotyping more cost efficiently, and identified effects of weather, body weight, and feed intake on liquid and total water intake in beef steers raised in the North Central USA.

University of Wyoming has completed research on periods of nutrient restriction, which often coincide with late-gestation and early lactation due to the overlap of increased nutrient requirements of cattle during these times with the limitation of high quality forages during these months. The cost of providing adequate feed can be debilitating for producers, and as such, there are often unintended periods of nutrient restriction during a critical period of development for that calf. There is often inadvertent selection pressures added to animals that respond with great resiliency to these periods, yet it may not be clear what physiological mechanisms are driving this increased resiliency to this stress. We are aware of the impact that the rumen microbiome has on providing energy for the host, and it is becoming clear how much a “healthy” reproductive tract microbiome can influence pregnancy outcome. Thus, we aimed to understand how these two microbial communities respond to late gestation nutrient restriction.

Activities.  The group has not attended or participated in joint activities due to COVID limitations but looks forward to working together in person in the future.

Milestones.  Recent group milestones include creation of large data sets related to feedlot heart disease in Colorado, host-associated microbiomes in Wyoming, gene expression relevant to life cycle and environment and carcass quality in Montana and pooled SNP genotyping in South Dakota.

Objective 2: Integrate quantitative and molecular research tools that contribute to the understanding of genetic prediction procedures and genetic associations among economically important traits and their indicators

Short-term Outcomes.  Our most significant short-term outcomes are scientific publications, which will lead to the advancement of knowledge on the rumen microbiome, feed efficiency, pulmonary arterial pressure, and meat science and production trait genetics in beef cattle (see publications list).

Outputs.  Similar to the first objective, large datasets are being generated and curated at all participating institutions relevant to economically important traits: large data sets related to feedlot heart disease in Colorado, host-associated microbiomes in Wyoming, gene expression relevant to life cycle and environment and carcass quality in Montana and pooled SNP genotyping in South Dakota.

Activities.  The group has not attended or participated in joint activities due to COVID limitations but looks forward to working together in person in the future.

Objective 3: Exchange information, discuss research results, plan new research, examine new developments, and discuss future problems, plan cooperative research and share ideas for interdisciplinary involvement in beef cattle breeding in the Western U.S.

Short-term Outcomes.  Graduate student recruitment is enhanced by both the online education system many WERA-1 members participate in, as well as through exchange of students entering graduate school.

Outputs.  The primary output for this objective is the publications and presentations made by our members.

New potential collaborators amongst WERA-1 members were identified at the last meeting. Many of the participating institutions have systems to measure feed intake. Pooling these resources will be used to further improve the efficiency of beef production in the US. We are also discussing improved cooperation amongst our participating institutions as well as S-1064 members, which have similar goals and objectives.

Activities.  We have also reached out to the S-1064 breeding group to explore holding more joint meetings.

Milestones.  We will continue to recruit new members to WERA-1 and develop collaborations among universities participating in our group. 

Peer-Reviewed Publications:

Flesch, E., T. Graves, J. Thomson, K. Proffitt, R. Garrott. 2021. Average kinship within bighorn sheep populations is associated with connectivity, augmentation, and bottlenecks. Accepted Oct 21,2021 for publication in Ecosphere

Engle, Bailey, Molly Masters, Jane A. Boles, and Jennifer Thomson. 2021. "Gene Expression and Carcass Traits Are Different between Different Quality Grade Groups in Red-Faced Hereford Steers" Animals 11, no. 7: 1910. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11071910

O’Shea-Stone, Galen, Rachelle Lambert, Brian Tripet, James Berardinelli, Jennifer Thomson, Valerie Copié, and Robert Garrott. "1H NMR based metabolic profiling distinguishes the differential impact of capture techniques on wild bighorn sheep." Scientific reports 11, no. 1 (2021): 1-12.

Wottlin, Lauren R., Gordon E. Carstens, William C. Kayser, William E. Pinchak, Jennifer M. Thomson, Valerie Copié, and Galen P. O’Shea-Stone. "Differential haptoglobin responsiveness to a Mannheimia haemolytica challenge altered immunologic, physiologic, and behavior responses in beef steers." Journal of animal science 99, no. 1 (2021): skaa404.

Hieber, Jordan K., Rachel L. Endecott, Jane A. Boles, and Jennifer M. Thomson. "Identification of Genomic Regions for Carcass Quality Traits within the American Simmental Association Carcass Merit Program." Animals 11, no. 2 (2021): 471.

Zhai, C., Li Puma, L.C., Chicco, A.J., Omar, A., Delmore, R.J., Geornaras, I., Speidel, S.E., Holt, T.N., Thomas, M.G., Enns, R.M., & Nair, M.N*. (2021). Pulmonary arterial pressure in fattened Angus steers at moderate altitude influences early postmortem mitochondria functionality and meat color during retail display. Journal of Animal Science, Accepted.

Del Rio-Aviles, A. D.,  A. Correa-Calderon, L. Avenado-Reyes, U. Macias-Cruz, M.A. Sanchez-Castro, , M.G. Thomas R.M. Enns, S.E. Speidel, R. Zamorano-Algandar, J.C. Leyva-Corona, C. Garcia-Benitez, and P. Luna-Nevarez. 2021. Effects of an injectable mineral supplementation on physiological responses and milk production of heat-stressed Holstein cows. J. Anim. Behav. Biometero. 9:2116. doi:10.31893/jab.21016.

Zamorano-Algandar, M.A. Sanchez-Castro, A.I. Hernandez-Cordero, R.M. Enns, S.E. Speidel, M.G. Thomas, J.F. Medrano, G. Rincon, J.C. Leyva-Corona, J.R. Reyna-Granados, P. Luna-Nevarez. 2021. Molecular breeding value estimation from candidate genes associated with reproductive traits in lactating Holstein cows managed in warm environmental conditions. Livst. Sci. 250 (in press). doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104536.

Cunningham-Hollinger, H. C., L. A. Kuehn, K. M. Cammack, K. E. Hales, W. T. Oliver, M. S. Crouse, C. Chen, H. C. Freetly, and A. K. Lindholm-Perry. 2021. Transcriptome profiles of the skeletal muscle of mature cows during feed restriction and realimentation. BMC Research Notes. 14:361. doi:10.1186/s13104-021-05757-8.

Hummel, G., K. Woodruff, K. Austin, R. Knuth, S. Lake, and H. Cunningham-Hollinger. 2021. Late Gestation Maternal Feed Restriction Decreases Microbial Diversity of the Placenta While Mineral Supplementation Improves Richness of the Fetal Gut Microbiome in Cattle. Animals. 11:2219. doi:10.3390/ani11082219.

Abrams, A.N., T.G. McDaneld, J.W. Keele, C.G. Chitko-McKown, L.A. Kuehn, and M.G. Gonda.  2021.  Evaluating accuracy of DNA pool construction based on white blood cell counts.  Frontiers in Genetics.  12: 635846.  doi: 10.3389/fgene.2021.635846.

Chen, X., W. Ogdahl, L. L. Hulsman Hanna, C. R. Dahlen, D. G. Riley, S. A. Wagner, E. P. Berg, and X. Sun. 2021. Evaluation of beef cattle temperament by eye temperature using infrared thermography technology. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 199: 106321. doi: 10.1016/j.compag.2021.106321.

Alam, Z.M., Y.-M. Lee, H.-J. Son, L.H. Hanna, D.G. Riley, H. Mannen, S. Sasazaki, S.P. Park, and J.-J. Kim. 2020. Genetic characteristics of Korean Jeju Black cattle with high density SNP chips. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences. Anim. Biosci. 34(5): 789-800. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.19.0888

Yu, H., G. Morota, E.F. Celestino Jr., C.R. Dahlen, S.A. Wagner, D.G. Riley, and L.L. Hulsman Hanna. 2020. Deciphering cattle temperament measures derived from four-platform standing scale using genetic factor analytic modeling. Frontiers in Genetics 11: 599. http://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2020.00599

Hulsman Hanna, L.L., J.K. Hieber, H. Yu, E.F. Celestino Jr., C.R. Dahlen, S.A. Wagner, and D.G. Riley. 2019. Blood collection has negligible impact on scoring temperament in Angus-based weaned calves. Livest. Sci. 230: 103835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103835

Completed Theses:

Bouffiou, J.., 2021. " The Use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Measures of Cattle Temperament to Predict Feedlot Performance of Commercial Beef Cattle"  Montana State University

Schumacher, M., 2021. " A Comparative Approach to Refine Molecular Mechanisms Impacting Meat Quality and Carcass." Montana State University

Bhowmik, N. 2021. Ancestral breed grouping for improving animal modeling in admixed populations and its use in Leptin (genetic and hormone) association studies with performance traits in commercial beef cow herd. North Dakota State University.

Celestino, E. 2021. Measurements of beef cattle temperament and effects of temperament on beef cattle productive and reproductive traits. North Dakota State University.

Oribamise, V. 2021. Estimation of non-additive genetic parameters of sheep reproductive traits in multiple breeds. North Dakota State University.

Abstracts, Proceedings, and Presentations:

Bouffiou, J., Boles, J., J. Thomson. 2021. PSXIII-20 Using 1H NMR Spectroscopy reveals metabolite markers associated to temperament and carcass quality in feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science 99(Supplement_3):438-438  10.1093/jas/skab235.784

H.M. Golder, I.J. Lean^,,  S.J. LeBlanc, T. Duffield,  H.A. Rossow, R. Bogdanich, L. Hernandez, E. Block and J. Thomson. 2021. Genome, Ruminal Metabolome, and Milk Associations in Lactating Holsteins. American Society of Dairy Science. July 2021

Thomson, J. M., M. Schumacher, J.A. Boles. 2021. A comparative approach to refine molecular mechanisms impacting meat quality and carcass characteristics. Translational Animal Science. Volume 5, Issue Supplement_S1, December 2021, Pages S189–S194, https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab184

Flesch, E., C. Lee, B. Shapiro, J. Thomson, R. Garrott. 2021. Comparing ancient and contemporary bighorn sheep populations using bones recovered from ice patches in the Greater Yellowstone Area.

Glacial and Ice Patch Archaeology International Conference. 7-10 Sept 2021.

O’Shea, G, R. Lambert, B. Tripet, J. Berardinelli, J. Thomson, R. Garrott, V. Copie. 2021. ¹H NMR based metabolic profiling distinguishes the differential impact of capture technique on wild bighorn sheep. Metabolites 2021 International Conference

Mosher, M.K., S. Olorunkoya, N. Bhowmik, K.A. Ringwall, L.L. Hulsman Hanna, K.C. Swanson. 2021. 89 Relationships among measures of efficiency with body weight, frame score, and body volume in lactating multiparous crossbred beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 9(Supplement_3): 47-48. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab235.084

Yusuf, M., M.L. Bauer, K.C. Swanson, L.L. Hulsman Hanna. 2021. 343 The influence of weather variables on average daily gain of beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 9(Supplement_3): 190-191. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab235.344

Yusuf, M., K.C. Swanson, L.L. Hulsman Hanna, and M.L. Bauer. 2020. PSIV-35 The relationship between weather variables and dry matter intake in beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 98(Supplement_4): 280-281. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa278.506

Bhowmik, N., K.A. Ringwall, C.R. Dahlen, K.C. Swanson, J.A. Clapper, A.K. Ward, and L.L. Hulsman Hanna. 2020. PSV-18 The role of leptin in feed efficiency and behavior attributes of commercial beef heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 98(Supplement_3): 162. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa054.286

Celestino Jr., E.F., J.K. Hieber, C.R. Dahlen, D.G. Riley, S.A. Wagner, and L.L. Hulsman Hanna. 2020. Evaluator effect on the prediction of genetic merit and genetic parameters estimation using subjective measures of beef cattle temperament. J. Anim. Sci. 98(Supplement_3): 161-162. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa054.285

Oribamise, V. and L.L. Hulsman Hanna. 2020. 37 Sibs: an R toolkit for computation of relatedness measures using large pedigrees. J. Anim. Sci. 98(Supplement_3): 41-42. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa054.074

Schmoker, S.J., N. Bhowmik, C.R. Dahlen, K.C. Swanson, K.A. Ringwall, and L.L. Hulsman Hanna. 2020. PSIII-10 The association of genes involved in mitochondrial function with growth, size, and feed efficiency traits in developing beef heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 98(Supplement_3): 232-233. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa054.407

Yusuf, M., K.C. Swanson, L.L. Hulsman Hanna, R. Degges, M.L. Bauer. 2020. 49 Solar radiation as a predictor variable for dry matter intake in beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 98(Supplement_3): 31. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa054.055

McDaniel, Z.S., C.L. Wright, M.G. Gonda, Z.K. Smith, W.V.A.H. Chathurika, and G. Djira.  2021.  The effects of weather, body weight, and dry matter intake on total daily water intake in beef steers.  American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, Louisville, KY.

Quail, L.K., R.A. Cushman, B.N. Keel, A.K. McNeel, M.G. Gonda, and G.A. Perry.  2021.  Preovulatory estradiol concentrations influence oviductal gene expression.  Society for the Study of Reproduction, St. Louis, MO.

Williams, J. D. K. L. Woodruff, G. L. Hummel, K. J. Austin, R. M. Knuth, and H. C. Cunningham-Hollinger. 2021. Effect of beef cow nutrition during late gestation on offspring feed efficiency. Abstract. Western Section Undergraduate Poster Competition. Western Section American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting. October, 2021.

Hummel, G. L., K. L. Woodruff, K. J. Austin, R. M. Knuth, J. D. Williams, and H. C. Cunningham-Hollinger. 2021. The materno-placental microbiome of gravid beef cows under moderate feed intake restriction. Translational Animal Science. 5:S159–S163. doi:10.1093/tas/txab172.

Hummel, G. L., K. L. Woodruff, K. J. Austin, T. L. Smith, and H. C. Cunningham-Hollinger. 2020. Evidence for the amnion-fetal gut-microbial axis in late gestation beef calves1. Translational Animal Science. 4:S174–S177. doi:10.1093/tas/txaa138.

Woodruff, K. L., G. L. Hummel, K. J. Austin, T. L. Smith, and H. C. Cunningham-Hollinger. 2020. Influence of the maternal rumen microbiome on development of the calf meconium and rumen microbiome1. Translational Animal Science. 4:S169–S173. doi:10.1093/tas/txaa136.

Duggan, K.L., T.N. Holt, M.G. Thomas, S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns.  2021. Effect of pulmonary arterial pressure and annual precipitation on reproductive performance of Angus heifers in south central Wyoming. Trans. Anim. Sci.  5:S175-S179. Suppl. S1. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab189.

Giess, L.K., M.G. Thomas, S.E. Speidel, M.M. Culbertson, W.R. Schafer, S.C. McGuire, R.M. Enns.  2021. Whole herd reporting data from the American Simmental Association as a data source for heifer pregnancy phenotypes. Trans. Anim. Sci. 5:S199-S203 Suppl. S1.  https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab152.

González-Murray, R.A., P.G. Martínez, V. Vigíl, H. Yazar-Gunes, M.A. Sánchez-Castro, R.M. Enns, S.E. Speidel, M.G. Thomas.  2021. Heterosis effects on age at first calving in a multibreed beef cattle herd in Panama. Trans. Anim. Sci. 5:S185-S188. Suppl. S1. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab169.

Heffernan, K.R., R.M. Enns, H.D. Blackburn, S.E. Speidel, C.S. Wilson, M.G. Thomas.  2021.  Case study of inbreeding within Japanese Black cattle using resources of the American Wagyu Association, National Animal Germplasm Program, and a cooperator breeding program in Wyoming. Trans. Anim. Sci.  5:S170-S174. Suppl. S1. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab181.

Kukor, I.M., M.G. Thomas, R.M. Enns, T.N. Holt, S.E. Speidel, M.A. Cleveland, B.P. Holland, A.B. Word, G.B. Ellis.  2021. Sire differences within heart and heart fat score in beef cattle, Trans. Anim. Sci. 5:S149–S153.  Suppl. S1.  https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab147.

Saad, H.M., R.M. Enns, M.G. Thomas, L.L. Leachman, S.E. Speidel.  2021. Foot scores genetic parameters estimation in beef cattle.  Trans. Anim. Sci.  5:S180-S184. Suppl. S1. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab170.

Yazar-Gunes, H., R.A. González-Murray, M.A. Sánchez-Castro, T.L. Passafaro, Y.L. Bernal-Rubio, K.J. Andersen, S.E. Speidel, M.G. Thomas, R.M. Enns. 2021. New approach to sustained cow fertility trait. Trans. Anim. Sci.  5:S195-S198. Suppl. S1. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab155.

Zimprich, T.R., S.E. Speidel, D.W. Schafer, B.A. Lashell, T.N. Holt, R.M. Enns, S.F. Cunningham, M.G. Thomas.  2021. Yearling pulmonary arterial pressure at moderate elevations as a varied indicator for pulmonary arterial pressure at high elevations in beef bulls in Colorado, Trans. Anim. Sci.  5:S204-S208.  Suppl. S1. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txab156.

Additional Presentations:

2021  Cattle Breeding:  Producing the next generation.  Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Mixed Taste Lecture Series.  Online due to covid-19. This is a general public lecture series that pairs two diverse topics and promotes discussion on how the two topics overlap.  In this case, I was paired with the 100 Year Starship Project (https://www.denvercenter.org/news-center/mixed-taste-still-at-home/ )

2021  Advancements in Understanding of Pulmonary Arterial Pressure as a Predictor Pulmonary Hypertension in Mountain and Feedlot Cattle.  S.E. Speidel, R.M. Enns, M.G. Thomas and T. N. Holt.  CVMBS Annual Conference for Veterinarians and Technicians.  May 1.  Dr. Speidel and I co-presented.

2021  Fundamentals of Data Collection and Evaluation.  R.M. Enns (Presenter) and S.E. Speidel.  American Wagyu Association Annual Meeting, Fort Collins (presented 2x due to covid restrictions).  September 25.

2021  Sire Differences within heart and heart fat score in beef cattle.  I. Kukor, S. E. Speidel, and R. M. Enns.  Certified Angus Beef Feeding Quality Forum.

2021  Sire differences within heart and heart fat score in beef cattle.  I. Kukor, S. E. Speidel, and R. M. Enns.  Beef Improvement Federation Annual Meeting and Research Symposium.  Des Moines, Iowa.

Presented at WSASAS: Hummel, G. L., K. L. Woodruff, K. J. Austin, R. M. Knuth, J. D. Williams, and H. C. Cunningham-Hollinger. 2021. The materno-placental microbiome of gravid beef cows under moderate feed intake restriction.

Presented at WSASAS: Williams, J. D. K. L. Woodruff, G. L. Hummel, K. J. Austin, R. M. Knuth, and H. C. Cunningham-Hollinger. 2021. Effect of beef cow nutrition during late gestation on offspring feed efficiency.