Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Meeting was called to order at 1:00 pm EST.

Participants introduced themselves

Dr. Matt Wilson provided a brief background of the group and the status of the project.

Station reports were provided by Dr. Jennifer Thomson (Montana State University), Dr. Matt Wilson (West Virginia University), Dr. Phillip Myer (University of Tennessee), Dr. Gordon Carstens (Texas A and M University), Dr. Ana Clara Baiao Menezes (South Dakota State University).

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:30 pm EST.

Accomplishments:

1. To understand biological sources of variation in the efficiency of nutrient utilization in beef cattle.

Research at Texas A&M is focused on understanding how variations in feeding behavior patterns, digestibility, and methane emissions differ between animals with divergent residual feed intake in beef cattle. Several publications, conference abstracts, and presentations have been developed from this work. At South Dakota State University, research is centered on identifying the sources and quantifying the magnitude of biological drivers responsible for variation in feed efficiency and nutrient utilization.

Researchers at West Virginia University are evaluating how residual feed intake status in beef steers affects their response to dietary supplementation. This study aims to understand if, and how, animal-related factors influence responses to feed additive supplementation, which is essential for enhancing the sustainable use of microbial feed additives as an alternative to antibiotics. The ultimate goal is to reduce antibiotic resistance in livestock production.

Current research at the University of Tennessee is examining the microbiological mechanisms that explain differences in cow/calf feed efficiency using a microbiome approach within the rumen of beef cattle. This project aims to uncover the molecular and microbiological mechanisms involved in efficient feed utilization and to identify feed efficiency-related microbial biomarkers. These insights are intended to improve beef production efficiency and support the growing need for food due to the increasing global human population.

At Montana State University, research is being conducted to evaluate muscle and adipose tissue gene expression and metabolites during the late feedlot fattening period in steers. The goal is to better understand how fattening is regulated to achieve specific carcass quality grades, allowing for precision management of feedlot cattle. Additionally, this project evaluates metabolic rate, body temperature, heart rate, circulating metabolites, and liver gene expression throughout two yearly production cycles, with samples taken each season and three during winter in both supplemented and grazing cows

2. To discover and develop biomarkers and genetic markers for the genetic improvement of nutrient utilization efficiency.

At the University of Tennessee, Dr. Phillip Myer and his team have successfully identified microbial biomarkers within the rumen that are associated with feed efficiency in beef cattle and calves. These biomarkers are essential for understanding the molecular and microbiological mechanisms that influence feed utilization. The team plans to continue developing and validating non-invasive buccal sampling techniques as a reliable proxy for rumen microbiome analysis.

In Montana, Dr. Thomson is conducting research to identify metabolite and transcript expression biomarkers linked to USDA quality grade, temperament, feed efficiency, and responsiveness to changing environmental conditions. Meanwhile, Dr. Ibukun Ogunade and Dr. Matt Wilson at West Virginia University are identifying metabolomic and rumen microbiome biomarkers for feed efficiency measures—specifically residual feed intake and residual body weight gain—that could serve as targets for genetic markers associated with feed efficiency.

3. To evaluate life-cycle efficiency of nutrient utilization in beef cattle to improve economic/environmental sustainability

Projects at South Dakota State University focus on measuring postweaning feed efficiency in young female cattle and examining how feed efficiency measured in growing animals impacts later-life feed efficiency, productivity, and longevity. At Texas A&M, researchers are evaluating Holstein heifers with divergent genomic residual feed intake, assessing impacts on feed efficiency, methane emissions, ruminal fermentation, and microbiome classification.

Montana State University is conducting research to evaluate metabolic rate, body temperature, heart rate, circulating metabolites, and liver gene expression throughout two yearly production cycles. Samples are collected in each season, with additional samples during winter, from both supplemented and grazing cows.

In West Virginia, researchers are collecting data from multiple groups of potential replacement heifers in both confinement and grazing environments to investigate efficiency rankings across these settings. Over the past year, data from more than 1,200 animals in confinement have been used to calibrate algorithms that predict dry matter intake with high accuracy. To date, these algorithms can predict daily dry matter intake within 1 kg/day and average intake over the testing period within 0.3 kg/day. Work will continue in the next fiscal year to refine these algorithms by including more animals, additional breeds, and metrics like incremental daily gain. Data collection has spanned three grazing seasons, with analysis of forage and fecal samples now underway to support predictive modeling efforts. Additionally, they have found that residual water intake (RWI) in test groups varies significantly, with a range of -6 to +10 liters from predicted intake, equating to substantial annual water consumption differences between the most and least efficient animals.

4. To develop and propagate EPDs, selection indices, and decision-support tools to facilitate selection for improved nutrient utilization efficiency.

In West Virginia, studies are being conducted to understand the microbiome and response to LPS challenge in Angus bulls with low or high Residual Feed Intake Expected Progeny Differences (RFI EPD).

5. To develop producer educational programs to enhance technology adoption by the beef industry.

In Texas, research findings were presented through invited talks, including ‘Impact of Selection for Residual Feed Intake on Feed Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Replacement Holstein Heifers’ at the McGregor Field Day in May 2023, and ‘The Merits of Genetic Selection for RFI to Improve Cow Efficiency’ at the Brazos County, Texas beef producers' meeting, also in May 2023. In West Virginia, results were shared through field day presentations at multiple Land Grant Universities—Virginia Tech, Colorado State University, Purdue University, and West Virginia University—to help producers understand the importance of feed and water use efficiency and discuss current tools in development.

In Tennessee, results from ongoing projects were presented at the annual UTIA Beef and Forage Research and Recommendation meeting and at various UTIA field days, ensuring findings are shared directly with beef producers, industry stakeholders, and Extension personnel.

Short-term Outcomes: Development of improved algorithms for determining feed intake from body weight, water intake and climatic variables.  Using measured water intake and determined feed intake to assess feed and water use efficiency. Generating data to compare efficiency measures for animals both in confinement and grazing. Identification of Key Microbial Biomarkers for feed efficiency in beef cattle. Validation of the use of buccal sampling as a non-invasive proxy for analyzing the rumen microbiome, providing a less intrusive method for collecting microbiological data. Concepts and findings from the project conducted at Tennessee have been incorporated into the graduate-level, enhancing the educational experience for students.

Outputs: Outputs include increased knowledge and understanding of nutrient utilization and efficiency in livestock species as evidenced by 13 publications and 22 research abstracts that were published and presented at meetings presentations along with producer outreach in West Virginia, Texas, South Dakota, and Tennessee during the current reporting period.

Peer-Reviewed Publications:

1. Pfau, A.P., Henniger, M.T., Samuelson, K.L., Hales, K.E., Löest, C.A., Hubbert, M.E., Lindholm-Perry, A.K., Egert-McLean, A.M., Mason, K.M., Shepherd, E.A. Voy, B.H., and Myer, P.R. 2024. Effects of protein concentration and beta-adrenergic agonists on ruminal bacterial communities in finishing beef heifers. Plos one, 19(2), p.e0296407.
2. O’Reilly, K., G.E. Carstens, B. Foris, and C.L. Daigle. 2024. Development of an algorithm to assess feed bunk replacement events using electronic feed intake systems in beef cattle. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. 106350. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106350.
3. O’Reilly, K., G.E. Carstens, J.R. Johnson, N. Deeb, and P. Ross. 2024. Relationship of genomically enhanced residual feed intake with performance, feed efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions and nutrient digestibilities in growing Holstein heifers. J. Anim. Sci. (Accepted).
4. Blake, N., M. Walker, I. Holaskova, D. J. Mata-Padrino, S. Plum, J. Hubbart, J. Hatton and M. E. Wilson.   Predicting Dry Matter Intake in Beef Cattle.  Journal of Animal Science 101:1–12. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad269
5. Hubbart, J., N. Blake, I. Holásková, D. Mata Padrino, M. Walker and M. E. Wilson.  2023.  Challenges in Sustainable Beef Cattle Production: A Subset of Needed Advancements.  Challenges 14:1-15.
6. Haderlie, S. A., Hieber, J. K., Boles, J., Berardinelli, J., Thomson, J. (2023). Molecular Pathways for Muscle and Adipose Tissue Are Altered between Beef Steers Classed as Choice or Standard. Animals, 13(12), 1947.
7. Modoluwamu Idowu, Godstime Taiwo, Taylor Sidney, Emily Treon, Yarahy Leal, Deborah Ologunagba, Francisca Eichie, Andres Pech Cervantes, and Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2024. Effects of rumen-bypass protein supplement on growth performance, hepatic mitochondrial protein complexes, and hepatic immune gene expression of beef steers with divergent residual feed intake. PloS One. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293718.
8. Godstime Taiwo, Olanrewaju Morenikeji, Modoluwamu Idowu, Taylor Sidney, Adekunle Ajiboye, Andres Pech Cervantes, Sunday Peters, and Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2024. Characterization of rumen microbiome and immune genes expression of crossbred beef steers with divergent residual feed intake phenotypes. BMC Genomics. 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10150-3.
9. Deborah Ologunagba, Modoluwamu Idowu, Godstime Taiwo, Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2024. Hepatic mRNA expression of innate and adaptive immune genes in beef steers with divergent residual body weight gain. Frontiers in Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2024.1349499.
10. Modoluwamu Idowu, Godstime Taiwo, Taylor Sidney, Anjola Adewoye, Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2024. Plasma proteomic analysis reveals key pathways associated with divergent residual body weight gain phenotype in beef steers. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1415594.
11. Emily Treon, Taylor Sidney, Godstime Taiwo, Modoluwamu Idowu, Yarahy Leal, Deborah Ologunagba, and Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2023. Effects of dietary supplementation of a blend of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, multiple live probiotic bacteria, and their fermentation products on performance, health, and rumen bacterial community of newly weaned beef steers during a 56-d receiving period. Translational Animal Science. DOI: 10.1093/tas/txad143.
12. Modoluwamu Idowu, Godstime Taiwo, Taylor Sidney, Matthew Wilson, and Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2023. The differential plasma and ruminal metabolic pathways and ruminal bacterial taxa associated with divergent residual body weight gain phenotype in crossbred beef steers. Transl Anim Sci. 7:txad054. doi: 10.1093/tas/txad054.
13. Francisca Eichie, Godstime A. Taiwo, Modoluwamu Idowu, Taylor Sidney, Emily Treon, Deborah Ologunagba, Yarahy Leal, Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2023. Effects of bovine respiratory disease on the plasma metabolome of beef steers during the receiving period. Front. Vet. Sci. 10:1239651. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1239651.

Abstracts, Proceedings, and Presentations:

1. Modoluwamu Idowu, Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2024. Awardee Talk: Residual feed intake in beef cattle: Biological basis and effect on response to dietary supplementation of bypass protein. ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting, Calgary Canada.
2. Deborah Ologunagba, Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2024. Hepatic mRNA expression of innate and adaptive immune genes in beef steers with divergent residual body weight gain. ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting, Calgary Canada.
3. Emily Treon, Ibukun Ogunade. 2024. Effects of dietary supplementation of a proprietary microbial additive on performance, health, and rumen bacterial community of newly weaned beef steers during a 56-d receiving period. ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting, Calgary Canada.
4. Samanthia Johnson, Kelsey Bentley, Scott Bowdridge, Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2024. Exploring lipopolysaccharide-induced alterations in the liver metabolome of sheep divergently bred for parasite resistance. ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting, Calgary Canada.
5. Sidney Taylor, Ibukun M. Ogunade. 2024. Exploring deep shotgun sequencing to understand the rumen microbial function in Angus bulls with divergent RFI EPD. ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting, Calgary Canada.
6. O'Reilly, K., Carstens, G., Wottlin, L., Welsh, Jr., T., Thomson, J., Copié, V., O'Shea-Stone, G. (2024). 1H Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics of serum from growing beef steers following a combined viral bacterial respiratory disease challence (331). Presented at WSASAS/ASAS 2024 Annual Meeting, Calgary AB.
7. Henniger, M.T., Shepherd, E.A., Clemmons, B.A., Luu, H., and Myer, P.R. 2024. Rumen Bacterial Community Establishment In Angus Calves. ASM Microbe Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
8. Henniger, M.T., Martin, M.G., Clemmons, B.A., Ault-Seay, T.B., Cordero, J.C., Voy, B.H., McLean, K.J., Mulon, P.Y., Anderson, D.E., and Myer, P.R. 2024. Impacts Of Pregnancy On The Rumen Environment Of Angus Heifers Differing In Feed Efficiency. ASM Microbe Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA.
9. Thekkoot, D. M, N. E. Blake, D. J. Mata Padrino, K. Garossino and M. E. Wilson.   Estimation of genetic parameters of traits associated with water efficiency, feed efficiency and growth in beef cattle.  Journal of Animal Science.
10. Blake, N., M. Walker, I. Holásková, D. Mata Padrino, M. Wilson. 2023. Incremental Variables in Predicting Beef Cattle Dry Matter Intake. Journal of Animal Science.
11. Yost, T., N. Blake, I. Holásková, D. Mata Padrino, J. K. Yost, J. Yates, K. Sanders and M. E. Wilson. 2023. Associations between feeding behavior, Residual Feed Intake, and Residual Average Daily Gain in Performance Tested Yearling Angus Bulls and Heifers. Journal of Animal Science.
12. O’Reilly, K., G.E. Carstens, J.R. Johnson, N. Deeb and P. Ross. 2023. Impact of favorable selection for RFI on feed efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in Holstein replacement heifers. Plains Nutrition Council Meeting. San Antonio, TX, April 2023.
13. Kidane, N.F., M.E. Irvin, W.B. Foxworth, G.E. Carstens, S. Horner, K. O'Reilly. 2023. Evaluation of feed intake, feed efficiency and days on trial in growing goats fed a total mixed diet. J. Anim. Sci. 101:305 (Suppl. 3), skad281.364.
14. Irvin, M.E., N.F. Kidane, G.E. Carstens, W.B. Foxworth, S. Horner, K. O'Reilly. 2023. Effects of breed type and gender on performance, feeding behavior, and feed efficiency in growing goats. J. Anim. Sci. 101:306 (Suppl. 3), skad281.365.
15. O’Reilly, K., G.E. Carstens, J.R. Johnson, N. Deeb and P. Ross. 2023. Evaluating the utility of genomically enhanced RFI as a selection criterion to improve feed efficiency in growing Holstein heifers. J. Dairy Sci. 106 (Suppl. 1). (Abstr.).
16. O’Reilly, K., G.E. Carstens, S. Adams, S.C. Fernando, J.R. Johnson, and N. Deeb. 2023. Characterizing the rumen bacterial community in replacement Holstein heifers with divergent genomically enhanced residual feed intake. J. Anim. Sci. 101 (Suppl.).
17. O’Reilly, K., G.E. Carstens, J.R. Johnson, N. Deeb, and P. Ross. 2023. Effects of genomic residual feed intake on performance, feed efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions in Holstein heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 101 (Suppl. 1):37-38. doi:10.1093/jas/skad068.043.
18. Wehrbein, M.; Velasquez Moreno, E.R.; Menendez, H.M.; Rusche, W.C.; Smith, Z.K.; Menezes, A.C.B. Winter-feeding high concentrate diets reduces enteric methane emissions pre-calving in beef cows. 2024 ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting. Calgary, Canada.
19. Moening, K.M.; Jardon, G.; Colombo, E.; Smith, Z.K.; Rusche, W.C.; Menezes, A.C.B. Ruminal degradation profiles of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein of finishing diets with different levels of inclusion of dried distillers grains plus solubles and soybean meal. Abstract. Journal of Animal Science, Volume 102, Issue Supplement_2, May 2024, Pages 252–253, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae102.286
20. Macholan, N.L.; Jardon, G.; Colombo, E.; Smith, Z.K.; Rusche, W.C.; Menezes, A.C.B. Substitution of dried distiller’s grains with soybean meal on beef cattle diets: Effects on ruminal ammonia and volatile fatty acid concentrations. Abstract. Journal of Animal Science, Volume 102, Issue Supplement_2, May 2024, Pages 250-251, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae102.284
21. Jardon, G.; Macholan, N.L.; Moening, K.M.; Colombo, E.; Smith, Z.K.; Rusche, W.C.; Menezes, A.C.B. Effects of substitution of DDGS with soybean meal in finishing diets: Dietary protein degradability and ruminal parameters. Plains Nutrition Conference. April 2024.
22. Jardon, G. H.; Kovarna, M.; Moening, K.; Brandner, A.; Werner, H.; Heldt, J. S. Menezes, A. C. B. 2023. Effects of a Phytogenic Supplement Pre- and Post-Calving on Colostrum Yield and Composition, and Cow-Calf Performance. In: ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS 2023. Albuquerque, NM. ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting. 2023. Doi:10.1093/jas/skad281.595

Additional Presentations:

1. Menezes, A.C.B. Nutritional Strategies for Pregnant Cows and Heifers. 2024 Midwest Liquid Feeds Annual Meeting. August 16-17, 2024. Oacoma, SD.
2. Menezes, A.C.B. Vitamin and mineral supplementation to gestating beef heifers:
   Fetal physiology and metabolic programming. July 21-25, 2024. ASAS-CSAS-WSASAS Annual Meeting. Calgary, Canada.
3. Menezes, A.C.B. Vitamin and mineral supplementation to gestating beef heifers: Fetal programming impacts. May 22-24. IX International Symposium of Beef Cattle Production (SIMCORTE). Vicosa, MG, Brazil.