Ruminal expression of the NQO1, RGS5, and ACAT1 genes may be indicators of feed efficiency in beef steers.
Ruminal genes differentially expressed in crossbred beef steers from USMARC with variation in gain and feed intake were identified in a previous study. Several of the genes identified with expression patterns differing between animals with high gain-low feed intake and low gain-high feed intake were evaluated in a separate, unrelated population of Angus × Hereford beef steers from the University of Wyoming that was classified to differ in residual feed intake (RFI). Of the 17 genes tested, two were differentially expressed by RFI class in the Angus × Hereford animals. These genes included NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1; P = 0.0009) and regulator of G-protein signaling 5 (RGS5; P = 0.01). A third gene, acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1; P = 0.06), displayed a trend toward association with RFI. These data suggest that some of the genes identified in a previous rumen transcriptome discovery study may have utility for identifying or selecting for animals with superior feed efficiency phenotypes across cattle breeds and populations.
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.|USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, USA.
R J
RJ
Kern
USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, USA.|Hastings College, Hastings, NE, USA.
C M
CM
Zarek
USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, USA.
A K
AK
Lindholm-Perry
USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, USA.
L A
LA
Kuehn
USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, USA.
W M
WM
Snelling
USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, USA.
H C
HC
Freetly
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA.
H C
HC
Cunningham
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
A M
AM
Meyer
D000101:Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle; D004435:Eating / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / Q000235:genetics*; D020710:RGS Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000069466:Red Meat; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism*; D059467:Transcriptome
D020710:RGS Proteins; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); D000101:Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase

RFI
; beef cattle; gene expression; qRT-PCR; residual feed intake; rumen; validation