Microbial Biomarkers Differ for Various Feed Efficiency Metrics in Beef Cattle

Cattle feed efficiency can influence operating costs and revenues, and it is a complex phenotype that can be measured by different metrices. The objective of this study was to determine which microbial taxa in the ruminal and fecal microbiomes of Angus bulls are associated with residual feed intake (RFI), residual average daily gain (RADG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and adjusted feed conversion ratio (AFCR) by using a large sample size. The metrics RFI and RADG are calculated from the difference between an animal's actual feed intake and actual gain, to their predicted intake and gain, respectively, and AFCR is the FCR adjusted for the animal's size. Rumen (n = 1176) and fecal (n = 1179) samples were collected from Angus bulls from 10 contemporary groups located across the continental U.S. Animals were assigned to three classifications (High, Medium, or Low) for each feed efficiency metric within each contemporary group, according to their individual performance data. To compare the feed efficiency metrics, a cost analysis scenario was performed, and bulls classified by RADG had the greatest correlation with predicted profit (r² = 0.98). For alpha diversity, only classification by FCR resulted in differences within both rumen and fecal samples. In the rumen environment, only 'X112' was significant (p = 0.02) by RFI classification, and Succinivibrionaceae was significant (p = 0.01) by FCR classification. In the fecal environment, a total of 19 families significantly differed, with bulls classified by RFI having the greatest number of different families. Bull feed efficiency status had greater impacts in the fecal microbiome compared to the rumen, but results should be taken in context since the animals were classified within each contemporary group. Still, differences detected within the fecal microbiome may allow for more assessable microbiome applications; however, the metric used to classify cattle as feed efficient will determine which microbial families are relevant.