Relationship between blood serum insulin-like growth factor I concentration and postweaning feed efficiency of crossbred cattle at three levels of dietary intake.
Blood serum concentration of IGF-I was analyzed to determine its relationship with individual postweaning feed efficiency (gain/feed) of 36 crossbred steer calves fed at three levels of feed intake (n = 12 at each level). Diets consisted of a corn silage-based growing diet for 84 d followed by a 91% concentrate finishing diet for 56 d. Dietary intake levels were at 80, 90, or 100% of ad libitum. Diets were formulated to ensure equal daily intake of protein, vitamins, and minerals across intake treatment levels. Intake was measured daily; ADG, DMI, and feed efficiency were calculated at 28-d intervals, through d 140. Individual weights and serum samples were collected at the beginning of the study and at 28-d intervals thereafter. The IGF-I concentrations were determined with a RIA. Data were analyzed as a multivariate split-plot in time. Imposed dietary intake restrictions did not affect serum IGF-I concentration (P = .90) or individual feed efficiency (P = .36), even though the least squares means for IGF-I concentration tended to decrease and the feed efficiency means tended to increase under the restricted intake levels. Serum IGF-I concentration, ADG, and feed efficiency were affected (P < .001) by collection date. Residual correlations between IGF-I concentrations at adjacent 28-d sampling times averaged .72. Diet intake level x sampling time interactions existed for ADG (P = .02) and feed efficiency (P < .001). Positive residual correlations of .28 (P < .001) and .16 (P = .07) existed between IGF-I and ADG and between IGF-I and feed efficiency, respectively. Regression analysis indicated that a 1 ng/mL increase in serum IGF-I concentration was associated with a .00135 kg/d increase in ADG (P < .001) and a .0001 kg gain/kg feed increase in feed efficiency (P = .04). These results support the hypothesis that serum IGF-I plays a role in growth and in efficiency of feed utilization in beef cattle.
Stick
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DA
Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus 43210-1095, USA.
Davis
M E
ME
Loerch
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SC
Simmen
R C
RC
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D012044:Regression Analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I