Genetic potential for residual feed intake and diet fed during early- to mid-gestation influences post-natal DNA methylation of imprinted genes in muscle and liver tissues in beef cattle

Discovery of epigenetic modifications associated with feed efficiency or other economically important traits would increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these traits. In combination with known genetic markers, this would provide opportunity to improve genomic selection accuracy in cattle breeding programs. It would also allow cattle to be managed to improve favorable gene expression. The objective of this study was to identify variation in DNA methylation between beef cattle of differential pre-natal nutrition and divergent genetic potential for residual feed intake (RFI). Purebred Angus offspring with the genetic potential for either high (HRFI) or low (LRFI) RFI were prenatally exposed to either a restricted maternal diet of 0.5 kg/d average daily gain (ADG) or a moderate maternal diet of 0.7 kg/d ADG from 30 to 150 d of gestation. We performed DNA methylation analysis of differentially methylated regions (DMR) of imprinted genes (Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) DMR2, IGF2/H19 imprinting control region (ICR) and IGF2 receptor (IGF2R) DMR2) using post-natal samples of longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle taken from male and female calves at birth and weaning, and of LD muscle, semimembranosus (SM) muscle, and liver samples collected from steers at slaughter (17 months of age). Interestingly, for all three DMR investigated in liver, LRFI steers had higher levels of methylation than HRFI steers. In LD muscle, IGF2/H19 ICR methylation differences for heifers at birth were due to pre-natal diet, while for steers at birth they were mostly the result of genetic potential for RFI with LRFI steers again having higher levels of methylation than HRFI steers. While results from repeated measures analysis of DNA methylation in steers grouped by RFI revealed few differences, in steers grouped by diet, we found higher methylation levels of IGF2 DMR2 and IGF2R DMR2 in LD muscle of restricted diet steers at weaning and slaughter than at birth, as well as increased methylation in LD muscle of restricted diet steers compared with moderate diet steers at weaning and/or slaughter. Our results suggest that differential pre-natal nutrition, and divergent genetic potential for RFI, induces tissue- and sex-specific alterations in post-natal IGF2 and IGF2R methylation patterns and that these patterns can vary with age in Angus beef cattle.     

Effect of feed restriction on dairy cow milk production: a review

In the dairy cow, negative energy balance affects milk yield and composition as well as animal health. Studying the effects of negative energy balance on dairy cow milk production is thus essential. Feed restriction (FR) experiments attempting to reproduce negative energy balance by reducing the quantity or quality of the diet were conducted in order to better describe the animal physiology changes. The study of FR is also of interest since with climate change issues, cows may be increasingly faced with periods of drought leading to a shortage of forages. The aim of this article is to review the effects of FR during lactation in dairy cows to obtain a better understanding of metabolism changes and how it affects mammary gland activity and milk production and composition. A total of 41 papers studying FR in lactating cows were used to investigate physiological changes induced by these protocols. FR protocols affect the entire animal metabolism as indicated by changes in blood metabolites such as a decrease in glucose concentration and an increase in non-esterified fatty acid or β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations; hormonal regulations such as a decrease in insulin and insulin-like growth factor I or an increase in growth hormone concentrations. These variations indicated a mobilization of body reserve in most studies. FR also affects mammary gland activity through changes in gene expression and could affect mammary cell turnover through cell apoptosis, cell proliferation, and exfoliation of mammary epithelial cells into milk. Because of modifications of the mammary gland and general metabolism, FR decreases milk production and can affect milk composition with decreased lactose and protein concentrations and increased fat concentration. These effects, however, can vary widely depending on the type of restriction, its duration and intensity, or the stage of lactation in which it takes place. Finally, to avoid yield loss and metabolic disorders, it is important to identify reliable biomarkers to monitor energy balance.     

快速型黄羽肉鸡饲料利用效率性状的基因组选择研究

旨在探究快速型黄羽肉鸡饲料利用效率性状的遗传参数,评估不同方法所得估计育种值的准确性。本研究以自主培育的快速型黄羽肉鸡E系1 923个个体（其中公鸡1 199只,母鸡724只）为研究素材,采用"京芯一号"鸡55K SNP芯片进行基因分型。分别利用传统最佳线性无偏预测（BLUP）、基因组最佳线性无偏预测（GBLUP）和一步法（SSGBLUP）3种方法,基于加性效应模型进行遗传参数估计,通过10倍交叉验证比较3种方法所得估计育种值的准确性。研究性状包括4个生长性状和4个饲料利用效率性状：42日龄体重（BW42D）、56日龄体重（BW56D）、日均增重（ADG）、日均采食量（ADFI）和饲料转化率（FCR）、剩余采食量（RFI）、剩余增长体重（RG）、剩余采食和增长体重（RIG）。结果显示,4个饲料利用效率性状均为低遗传力（0.08~0.20）,其他生长性状为中等偏低遗传力（0.11~0.35）;4个饲料利用效率性状间均为高度遗传相关,RFI、RIG与ADFI间为中度遗传相关,RFI与ADG间无显著相关性,RIG与ADG间为低度遗传相关。本研究在获得SSGBLUP方法的最佳基因型和系谱矩阵权重比基础上,比较8个性状的估计育种值准确性,SSGBLUP方法获得的准确性分别比传统BLUP和GBLUP方法提高3.85%~14.43%和5.21%~17.89%。综上,以RIG为选择指标能够在降低日均采食量的同时保持日均增重,比RFI更适合快速型黄羽肉鸡的选育目标;采用最佳权重比进行SSGBLUP分析,对目标性状估计育种值的预测性能最优,建议作为快速型黄羽肉鸡基因组选择方法。     

基于机器视觉的饲料生产智能包装系统设计与应用研究

为提高饲料生产订单的包装效率、智能化程度、降低包装成本,文章基于机器视觉,从硬件选择与软件设计两个层面设计饲料生产智能包装系统。采用AutoMod软件对饲料生产智能包装系统进行仿真试验,检验整个包装系统效果。结果表明,该智能包装系统包装效率高、关键设备利用率高、系统可靠性、可行性良好。     

HPLC法测定天然植物粗提物中芍药苷含量

建立高效液相色谱法检测天然植物粗提物饲料原料中芍药苷的测定方法。用十八烷基硅烷键合硅胶色谱柱,以乙腈-0.1%磷酸溶液(14:86)为流动相,检测波长230nm,流速：1.0 mL/min;柱温：30 ℃;进样量：10μL。结果显示,芍药苷的线性方程为Y=10.6017X－14.8514,(r=0.99966,n=6),本方法的回收率为100.4~102.1%,RSD均小于2.0%。结果表明,本方法准确,可靠,适用于天然植物粗提物饲料原料中芍药苷的测定。     

发酵饲料中抑菌菌种筛选及抑菌性能评估方法的初步研究

试验通过牛津杯法筛选出抑制金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌性能较强的一株乳酸菌L3和两株芽孢杆菌D9、K9。将其用于制作发酵饲料,提升发酵饲料的抑菌性能。试验初步研究发酵饲料的体外抑菌性能评估方法。结果表明,用80%的乙醇溶液作为发酵饲料的前提取溶剂可增加抑菌物质的溶解,浓缩提取液的浓度可使发酵样品的抑菌效果更加明显。     

超高效液相色谱法测定饲料中斑蝥黄和β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯含量方法的研究

为有效快速测定饲料中斑蝥黄和β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯含量,饲料经甲醇、正己烷和乙酸乙酯混合液萃取后,在氮气保护下浓缩,用甲基叔丁基醚-乙腈溶液复溶,注入超高效液相色谱仪中进行测定。结果表明:斑蝥黄浓度为1.25~10.0μg/mL,β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯为2.50~20.0μg/mL线性关系良好;斑蝥黄和β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯的检测限为0.06 mg/kg,定量限为0.20 mg/kg。斑蝥黄5个添加水平的平均回收率为72.8%~82.8%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为0.41%~1.06%;β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯5个添加水平的平均回收率为72.0%~82.8%,RSD为0.46%~1.41%。说明该方法简便、快速、灵敏度高、准确度好,适用于测定饲料中斑蝥黄和β-阿朴-8’-胡萝卜素酸乙酯含量。     

“互联网+”背景下电子商务在饲料企业经营中的运行机制研究

电子商务的迅猛发展,不仅改变了企业的经营模式,也改变了用户的消费习惯和理念。饲料企业也开始寻求电子商务与传统交易方式相结合的经营模式,谋求企业的长远发展。本文基于"互联网+"背景下,深入分析了我国饲料企业电子商务的经营现状和存在的问题,探讨了电子商务在企业经营中的运行机制和不足之处,并提出了相关的优化对策,以期能帮助企业实现可持续发展。