Modeling causal relationships between residual feed intake, enteric methane emission, metabolome and nutrient digestibility in Nelore cattle using structural equations.

• Grant number: 24/22081-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Genetics and Improvement of Domestic Animals
• Principal Investigator: Maria Eugênia Zerlotti Mercadante
• Grantee: Fabieli Loise Braga Feitosa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Zootecnia. Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios (APTA). Secretaria de Agricultura e Abastecimento (São Paulo - Estado). Nova Odessa , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11922-2 - Science Center for the Development of Climate Neutrality for Beef in Tropical Regions, AP.CCD

Abstract

The increasing demand for productive efficiency and sustainability in livestock production has intensified interest in understanding the factors affecting traits such as residual feed intake, enteric methane emissions, and nutrient digestibility in cattle. However, to date, the relationship between feed efficiency and methane emissions remains contradictory. This study aims to model causal relationships among residual feed intake (RFI), enteric methane emissions, ruminal microbiome, and nutrient digestibility in Nelore cattle (Bos indicus) from the Nelore Breeding Program of the Instituto de Zootecnia, evaluated in post-weaning performance tests, using structural equation modeling (SEM) integrated with multi-omics approaches. By integrating genomic, metabolomic, metagenomic, and phenotypic data, we aim to identify the underlying mechanisms governing feed efficiency and methane emissions, ultimately improving the accuracy of genetic selection for these traits and promoting a more efficient and sustainable livestock industry.