Nutrition Nutrition Articles

Nutrition and Genetics

Nutrition is directly linked to rate and composition of growth which are related to each other. Available energy translates genetic directives through tissue regulation into patterns of growth. Nutrigenomics is an emerging field which combines genomic and nutritional information to enhance growth in a desired way.

The composition of growth reflects levels of available substrates provided for metabolic imperatives on a priority basis. Two priority areas exist; maintenance and growth. Growth is further divided into protein growth and fat deposition. We can predict with some certainty what each animal needs in both energy and protein at a given weight allowing us to formulate within a defined period of time. By regulating growth we can strategically produce growth in structural components or in tissues. A good example would be backgrounding a beef calf. The ration provides enough nutrients to grow the bones while not enough to maximize tissue deposition. Whereas a dairy/beef calf already has a bigger frame so a higher energy/protein ration is fed to maximize lean tissue deposition. In finisher rations fat deposition is desired so more energy is provided to allow for intracellular fat deposition as well as backfat at the time when the animals’ lean tissue deposition rate is declining. It takes much more energy to deposit fat than it does for lean so high energy rations need to be used. Knowing this helps producers to mix rations which are designed to meet the needs of the animal without under or over delivering energy or protein. Inevitably we tend to overfeed protein but an accurate mixer allows more precise use of ingredients and thereby gives the best cost solution with the ingredients available.

Genetics are playing a bigger role over the last 10 years because techniques for examining the genome have rapidly developed. The information we now have exceeds our ability to understand it completely. None the less the ability to sequence the genome has led to the tentative calculation of Genomic EBV’s. These are currently being used in the dairy industry with mostly positive results but not completely. Most recently there are reports of trait fitness scores declining. These include poorer immune response, increased leg weakness, reduced fertility and behavioral issues.2 Generally the response has been that if the genetic advantages are financially greater than the negative elements of declining fitness of the animal, then the decision is to use nutrition to moderate in some measure the poorer fitness trait. Some of this is possible and focuses most attention on mineral addition with elevated levels of some minerals. The first consideration is to make sure all animals get mineral. Highline manufactures a line of mixers which have tested accurate for both part and full loads over a wide range of ingredients. Using a mixer ensures that the mineral portion is properly distributed throughout the other ingredients and gives every animal these important elements. With the bovine genome sequenced in 20091 we can expect more influence of genetic discoveries on nutrition but all of them will mean a greater need for precision feeding through accurate mixers.

Present day sorting of animals for the feedlot is based on body type and weight. These will always play a defining role but as we unlock what the beef genome is telling us it will take a leading role in how and what we feed to animals. Not all small framed animals finish fast and not all large framed animals finish slow. Genomics will sort this out and lead to more precise feeding and more efficient use of ingredients through use of accurate mixers. Highline mixers are tested to check the variation in both particle size and nutrient distribution. The available towed mixers ranges in capacity are 520ft3, 690ft3, 850ft3. Highline also offers the AMX1000s self-loading self-propelled mixer also with high accuracy in mixing. Check out which mixer can help your operation to address the complexities of mixing to produce best cost solutions in feeding your cattle.

1 A whole-genome assembly of the domestic cow, Bos Taurus, Steven L Salzburg et al. Genome Biology volume 10, Article number: R42 (2009)
2 Potential negative effects of genomic selection Ignacy Misztal1, and Daniela Lourenc Journal of Animal Science, 2024, 102, skae155 https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skae155

---