Nitrogen isotopic fractionation as a biomarker for nitrogen use efficiency in ruminants: a meta-analysis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Cantalaiedra Hijar, G (Author) Other; Dewhurst, RJ (Author) Other; Cheng, L (Author) Other; A. Cabrita (Author) ICBAS; Antonio J M Fonseca (Author) ICBAS; Noziere, P (Author) Other; Makowski, D (Author) Other; Fouillet, H (Author) Other; Ortigues Marty, I (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Animal

Vol. 12

Pages: 1827-1837

ISSN: 1751-7311

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 32 Citations

Scopus - 34 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-JM7

DOI: 10.1017/s1751731117003391

Abstract (EN): Animal proteins are naturally N-15 enriched relative to the diet and the extent of this difference (N-15(animal-diet) or N isotopic fractionation) has been correlated to N use efficiency (NUE; N gain or milk N yield/N intake) in some recent ruminant studies. The present study used meta-analysis to investigate whether N-15(animal-diet) can be used as a predictor of NUE across a range of dietary conditions, particularly at the level of between-animal variation. An additional objective was to identify variables related to N partitioning explaining the link between NUE and N-15(animal-diet). Individual values from eight publications reporting both NUE and N-15(animal-diet) for domestic ruminants were used to create a database comprising 11 experimental studies, 41 treatments and individual animal values for NUE (n=226) and N-15(animal-diet) (n=291). Data were analyzed by mixed-effect regression analysis taking into account experimental factors as random effects on both the intercept and slope of the model. Diets were characterized according to the INRA feeding system in terms of N utilization at the rumen, digestive and metabolic levels. These variables were used in a partial least squares regression analysis to predict separately NUE and N-15(animal-diet) variation, with the objective of identifying common variables linking NUE and N-15(animal-diet). For individuals reared under similar conditions (within-study) and at the same time (within-period), the variance of NUE and N-15(animal-diet) not explained by dietary treatments (i.e. between-animal variation plus experimental error) was 35% and 55%, respectively. Mixed-effect regression analysis conducted with treatment means showed that N-15(animal-diet) was significantly and negatively correlated to NUE variation across diets (NUE=0.415 -0.055x(15)N(animal-diet)). When using individual values and taking into account the random effects of study, period and diet, the relationship was also significant (NUE=0.358 -0.035x(15)N(animal-diet)). However, there may be a biased prediction for animals close to zero, or in negative, N balance. When using a novel statistical approach, attempting to regress between-animal variation in NUE on between-animal variation in N-15(animal-diet) (without the influence of experimental factors), the negative relationship was still significant, highlighting the ability of N-15(animal-diet) to capture individual variability. Among the studied variables related to N utilization, those concerning N efficiency use at the metabolic level contributed most to predict both N-15(animal-diet) and NUE variation, with rumen fermentation and digestion contributing to a lesser extent. This study confirmed that on average N-15(animal-diet) can predict NUE variation across diets and across individuals reared under similar conditions.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11