Publications by authors named "Andres P Cervantes"
We investigated whole blood and hepatic mRNA expressions of immune genes and rumen microbiome of crossbred beef steers with divergent residual feed intake phenotype to identify relevant biological processes underpinning feed efficiency in beef cattle. Low-RFI beef steers (n = 20; RFI = - 1.83 kg/d) and high-RFI beef steers (n = 20; RFI = + 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe applied whole blood transcriptome analysis and gene set enrichment analysis to identify pathways associated with divergent selection for low or high RFI in beef cattle. A group of 56 crossbred beef steers (average BW = 261 ± 18.5 kg) were adapted to a high-forage total mixed ration in a confinement dry lot equipped with GrowSafe intake nodes for period of 49 d to determine their residual feed intake (RFI).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEffects of exogenous α-amylases, glucoamylases, and proteases on ruminal in vitro dry matter and starch digestibility, gas production, and volatile fatty acids of mature dent corn grain.
Transl Anim Sci
January 2021
Article Synopsis
- Two experiments assessed the impact of various doses of α-amylase, glucoamylase, and proteases on the digestibility of mature dent corn grain using a controlled batch culture system.
- In experiment 1, certain enzymes notably improved in vitro dry matter (IVDMD) and starch digestibility (IVSD), with enzyme 6Afuga causing the greatest increases at 1 mg dosage.
- Experiment 2 found that lower doses of bacterial proteases significantly enhanced IVDMD and IVSD, indicating that specific enzyme types and amounts can effectively boost corn grain digestibility.
Article Synopsis
- Previous research on direct-fed microbial (DFM) impacts on animal metabolism has been limited and focused primarily on a narrow range of metabolites and not on hindgut microbiota.
- In a study involving beef steers, a supplement called Commence™ was given to examine its effects on plasma metabolites and fecal bacterial communities over 42 days.
- Results showed that DFM supplementation increased levels of key metabolites like glucose while altering the composition of gut bacteria, indicating a positive impact on energy status in the supplemented group.