Abstract
This study aimed to determine the relationship between the metabolome and changes in growth rate (i.e., liveweight change, LWC) and molasses-lick block supplement intake (MLB) of grazing cattle. Weaner beef cattle were fed for 220 days with a sequence of feed types and blood samples, growth rate, and supplement intake were taken on five points in time. The relative abundance (RA) of plasma metabolites were determined using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Sixty-four per cent of the metabolites identified were associated with LWC but only 26% with MLB intake (P < 0.05). Periods with faster growth rate showed high availability of amino acids (i.e., valine, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine and tyrosine), acetate, and 3-hydroxybutyrate. Periods with lower growth rate were associated with high RA of lipids, choline and acetate. The metabolic profile of individual animals during a period of compensatory growth (after periods of poor performance) showed that high-performing animals were characterised by lower RA of amino acids (i.e., valine, leucine, isoleucine, methylhistidine), creatinine, creatine, pyruvate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and acetyl groups. It is speculated that high-performing animals have faster uptake of these metabolites from the bloodstream. Cattle growth rate over time was associated with their metabolome which could be used to ensure that the availability of certain metabolites promoting growth is tailored in feed supplements to improve production.
Highlights
This study aimed to determine the relationship between the metabolome and changes in growth rate and molasses-lick block supplement intake (MLB) of grazing cattle
The use of these technologies could enable a simultaneous assessment of the relationship between the blood metabolome and Live weight change (LWC) and supplement intake in grazing cattle fed as a group
The present study aimed to investigate the associations between the relative abundance (RA) of blood metabolites in grazing beef cattle and their LWC and molasses-lick blocks (MLB) intake as animals grazed different forages over time
Summary
This study aimed to determine the relationship between the metabolome and changes in growth rate (i.e., liveweight change, LWC) and molasses-lick block supplement intake (MLB) of grazing cattle. The metabolic pathways behind growth responses are far from being fully understood[7] This is evident in grazing beef cattle as producers feed them with different types of forages varying in quantity and quality over seasons[8] and a large variation in growth rate amongst individual animals e xist[9]. Metabolic pathways affecting LWC could highlight metabolites of low molecular weight (e.g., sugars, lipids, amino acids) involved in complex interactions between external (e.g., nutrition) and internal (e.g., genotype) factors expressing the p henotype[7,16] This knowledge can be used to enhance and tailor the nutritional management of animals[17] and biomarker discovery of desirable economic t raits[13]. The present study aimed to investigate the associations between the relative abundance (RA) of blood metabolites in grazing beef cattle and their LWC and MLB intake as animals grazed different forages over time. We hypothesised that LWC and the intake of MLB are reflected in significant changes in the blood metabolome of animals
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