Source: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to
EQUIPPING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY BEEF RESEARCH FACILITIES WITH INDIVIDUAL FEEDING UNITS TO STUDY GENOTYPE BY NUTRITION INTERACTIONS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0224869
Grant No.
2011-69004-30345
Project No.
SD00G388-10
Proposal No.
2010-04561
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
A5101
Project Start Date
Apr 1, 2011
Project End Date
Mar 31, 2013
Grant Year
2013
Project Director
Wright, C. L.
Recipient Organization
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY
PO BOX 2275A
BROOKINGS,SD 57007
Performing Department
Animal & Range Sciences
Non Technical Summary
Efficient use of natural feed resources in the production of meat for human consumption is important both from the aspect of maintaining a sustainable food supply as well as resulting in sustainable livestock operations. The object of this experiment is to equip a cattle feeding facility at South Dakota State University with Insentec Individual Feeders so that feed intake can be recorded. This equipment will allow feed efficiency to be calculated for individual cattle and associated with the genetics of that animal. Combining these data will allow for the selection of cattle that are more efficient in their use of feed natural resources in the production of meat for human consumption. This information will be shared with current producers and students that will be future producers.
Animal Health Component
75%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
25%
Applied
75%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3023310101040%
3033310104040%
3053310102020%
Knowledge Area
305 - Animal Physiological Processes; 302 - Nutrient Utilization in Animals; 303 - Genetic Improvement of Animals;

Subject Of Investigation
3310 - Beef cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science
1020 - Physiology; 1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 1040 - Molecular biology;
Goals / Objectives
The objective of this equipment grant is to purchase individual cattle feeding units such that: 1) the phenotypic variation of feed efficiency and associated physiological parameters that result with genotype by nutrition interactions can be evaluated, and 2) molecular selection panels can be compared with feed efficiency data from seedstock.
Project Methods
The purpose of the individual feeding units is to measure individual feed intake in a production environment on a feasible number of experimental units. The advantages and disadvantages of each of three individual feeding systems (Calan gates, GrowSafe system, and Insentec pneumonic system) were evaluated. For the Calan gate system, the disadvantages of high labor costs and greater opportunity for human error in recording feed weights out-weighed the lower initial equipment and installation costs. The GrowSafe system reduces the labor and human error associated with the Calan gate system; however, the GrowSafe system records ad libitum intake but does not allow feed amount or length of feeding time to be controlled, nor can multiple treatments be provided within a single pen of cattle. The Insentec system lessens the opportunity for weight recording errors. Additionally, the Insentec system allows for control over the length of time that cattle have access to feed, the amount that the cattle can consume, as well as which cattle can access a given feeder, thus allowing multiple treatments to be fed within a single pen of cattle. Less likelihood for weighing error and the flexibility with regard to experimental design for the Insentec system out-weighed the costs associated with this system. As a result of this cost-benefit analysis, it was decided that the Insentec system for measuring individual feed intake in a pen environment was the best system. Ten individual feeding units are planned for the facility. Depending on type of diet and cattle being fed, 4 - 6 head of cattle can be fed with each unit. The ~50-head capacity of the facility provides the statistical power of a 500 head small-pen research facility. A smaller number of cattle make intensive sampling feasible and laboratory analyses for the collected samples economically-reasonable with equal statistical power. Additionally, the ability to measure intake on individual cattle and establish a direct link between feed conversion efficiency within specific genotypes or the interaction of genotype and nutrition on the expression of specific genes that regulate feed intake, growth, or metabolism will provide research capabilities that previously have not been available.

Progress 04/01/11 to 03/31/13

Outputs
Target Audience: Once the individual feeding units have been installed, research will be conducted to address needs of the beef cattle industry. The primary target audience is beef producers. Changes/Problems: This project was granted a no-cost extension during 2012. That extension was requested to allow the purchase to be made after the initial design process for a new beef cattle teaching and research center had begun. In doing so, the architects and engineers were able to more accurately incorporate the necessary infrastructure for feeding system into the plans for the new facility. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? As part of the fund-raising process toward development of a new beef cattle teaching and research center, multiple constituent groups and communities of interest have been engaged as potential donors. In each instance, they have been made aware of the purchase of the Insentec RIC system and that it was funded in-part by a grant from NIFA. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? A RIC feeding system was purchased and delivered from Insentec BV. The system is comprised of 10 individual feeding units that will allow for application of dietary treatments to individual animals and collection of individual feed intake. The system also includes all of the necessary control and data collection equipment and software. Currently, South Dakota State University is in the process of securing funding for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art beef cattle teaching and research center. These feeding units will be incorporated into that new facility where they will facilitate collection of date related to feed efficiency and research on factors that affect feed efficiency in beef cattle. Construction of the new facility is expected to commense during the summer of 2014.

Publications


    Progress 04/01/11 to 03/31/12

    Outputs
    OUTPUTS: The feeding units to be purchased as part of this project are to be placed in a new facility that has yet to be built. During this reporting period the appropriate state agencies approved the design process for the new facility. A no-cost extension was granted to the investigators to allow more time to procure the feeding units and to have them delivered closer to the time of construction of the new facility. Official quotes were received and the purchasing process initiated. The transaction will not be finalized and the equipment delivered until the next reporting period. PARTICIPANTS: C.L. Wright; S.J. Winterholler; B.P. Holland; R.H. Pritchard; M.G. Gonda TARGET AUDIENCES: South Dakota Beef Producers PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A 1-year, no-cost extension was granted to the investigators during this reporting period.

    Impacts
    None to date.

    Publications

    • No publications reported this period