Metabolomic profile of feces associated with residual feed intake of Gyr bulls

• Grant number: 21/08234-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2021
• End date: April 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: Lenira El Faro Zadra
• Grantee: Maria Fernanda Lourenço Sercundes
• Host Institution: Instituto de Zootecnia. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Nova Odessa , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to explore the metabolomic profile of the Gir bulls' feces of in order to understand the residual feed intake phenotype. For this purpose, information from cattle submitted to the feed efficiency test in 2020 will be used. For this purpose, 20 Gyr bulls were used with a mean age of 11 months (± 330 days), belonging to the Brazilian Association of Gyr Breeders (ASSOGIR) and the National Program for the Promotion and Genetic Improvement of Gyr Beef Production (CARNEGIR). The animals remained 77 days in the feedlot, including 21 days for adaptation to the diet/facility and 56 days of the test itself. The stall was equipped with troughs and electronic scales to assess the phenotypes of dry matter intake (DMI, kg/day), average daily gain (ADG, kg/day) and metabolic body weight (MBW, kg). At the beginning and end of the test, feces from the rectal ampoule of each bovine were collected for metabolomics assays through nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The residual feed intake (RFI, DM kg/day) will be calculated by linear regression of DMI in ADG and MBW. The metabolites will be identified, quantified and associated with the phenotype, in order to assess the metabolic pathways and elucidate the mechanisms involved in RFI. However, the project will use new technologies in order to identify biomarkers for feed efficiency, which may help in the animal selection process for meat production, in addition to modifying and improving the genetic potential of the Gyr breed. (AU).