Abstract
Fescue toxicosis impacts beef cattle production via reductions in weight gain and muscle development. Isoflavone supplementation has displayed potential for mitigating these effects. The objective of the current study was to evaluate isoflavone supplementation with fescue seed consumption on rumen and serum metabolomes. Angus steers (n = 36) were allocated randomly in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments including endophyte-infected (E+) or endophyte-free (E−) tall fescue seed, with (P+) or without (P−) isoflavones. Steers were provided a basal diet with fescue seed for 21 days, while isoflavones were orally administered daily. Following the trial, blood and rumen fluid were collected for metabolite analysis. Metabolites were extracted and then analyzed by UPLC-MS. The MAVEN program was implemented to identify metabolites for MetaboAnalyst 4.0 and SAS 9.4 statistical analysis. Seven differentially abundant metabolites were identified in serum by isoflavone treatment, and eleven metabolites in the rumen due to seed type (p < 0.05). Pathways affected by treatments were related to amino acid and nucleic acid metabolism in both rumen fluid and serum (p < 0.05). Therefore, metabolism was altered by fescue seed in the rumen; however, isoflavones altered metabolism systemically to potentially mitigate detrimental effects of seed and improve animal performance.
Highlights
Tall fescue is the major forage used to feed cattle in pasture-based systems of the southeast and covers approximately 14 million hectares across the United States [1]
The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of isoflavone supplementation with tall fescue seed consumption on beef steer’s rumen and serum metabolomes
The current study found tyrosine metabolism to be affected by seed type in the rumen; tyrosine metabolic pathways are influenced as the signals for dopamine production are reduced during fescue toxicosis
Summary
Tall fescue is the major forage used to feed cattle in pasture-based systems of the southeast and covers approximately 14 million hectares across the United States [1]. The endophyte produces ergot alkaloids that are toxic to animals that consume them for an extended period of time [3]. Ergot alkaloids are able to bind biogenic amine receptors on blood vessels, resulting in vasoconstriction throughout the body [4,5,6]. This results in a condition known as fescue toxicosis, which is commonly observed by the animal’s inability to thermoregulate [7], poor reproductive performance [1], and reduced average daily gain [8], significantly reducing overall animal performance. Researchers are tasked with identifying management methods and therapeutics to alleviate these consequences to cattle producers
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