Pig Feed Efficiency: Application of systems integrative biology and transgenic technologies
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Biosciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Brameld J
(2017)
Achieving sustainable production of pig meat Volume 2
Brameld JM
(2016)
Improving efficiency in meat production.
in The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Brearley MC
(2019)
Changes in expression of serine biosynthesis and integrated stress response genes during myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells.
in Biochemistry and biophysics reports
Jing L
(2015)
Transcriptome analysis of mRNA and miRNA in skeletal muscle indicates an important network for differential Residual Feed Intake in pigs.
in Scientific reports
Olomu C
(2015)
Differential gene expression of glycolytic metabolic proteins in two divergent growing muscles of broiler chicken (Ross 308 genotype)
in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Parr T
(2016)
The impact of growth promoters on muscle growth and the potential consequences for meat quality.
in Meat science
| Description | The tragic early death of Professor Keith Campbell in October 2012 meant major adjustments in the China Partnering awards had to be made as Professor Campbell was to be directly involved in the collaborative research associated with his specialist area of nuclear transfer technology (objective 2). However through adjustment of the programme we believe we were able to meet the objectives set out in the original application. The most significant outcomes of the BBSRC China Partnering Award was exchanges have enable engagement of a range of UK scientists with numerous academics, early career researchers as well as post-graduate research students from China. Our meetings endeavored to share our current research findings and share best research practice in the area of pig production science for mutual benefit (Objective 1). This has resulted in a joint manuscript being submitted for publication. Alongside this scientific outcome various team building events allowed participants to develop a good understanding of the cultural and societal aspects that underpin the practice of science in China. The extended study exchange that was undertaken as part of the Partnering Award enabled an academic from our partner institution in China to begin to develop a novel cell culture based technique to potentially generate muscle cells from general non-specialized cell types (fibroblasts) isolated from any pig (Objective 2). This will allow the generation pig specific muscle cells in culture (currently difficult to do) which can be continuously grown. More importantly it will allow the investigation of biological mechanisms regulating muscle function in cells rather than in having to kill animals for each experiment. Such a research resource will enable the investigation of variation in response due to different pig breed. This has significant value to pig production systems in China where multiple pig breeds are used commercially. As a result of a PhD studentship, which was generated and funded as a result of our collaborations generated by the Partnering Award, we have produced preliminary data which has, in part, been responsible for a colleague, who was part of the Partnering Award, gaining funding to investigate application of these type of technologies to generate and culture the cells responsible for reproductive capacity in pigs (BBSRC grant BB/M001466/1). Therefore we have been able identify opportunities in the area of pig production which might be applicable to generate animals with enhanced efficiency of nutrient utilization (objective 3). In need, partially through the collaborative discussion and work instigated through the China Partnering Award we have been able to attract further funding form the global animal health pharmaceutical company Zoetis, for example our BBSRC LINK grant BB/M001385/1. Although collaborative outputs from the China Partnering Award have attracted funding from Zoetis, this company has chosen to explore these opportunities by funding the groups at the University of Nottingham and Huazhong Agricultural University independently of each other. However both sites are using this funding to establish novel ways of improving feed efficiency in pigs which will hopefully have an impact on maintaining global food security. |
| Exploitation Route | Our collaborative work as part of this China Partnering award as allowed the development of ideas and techniques in the area of pig production which are currently being utilized by global animal health pharmaceutical company Zoetis to identify processes that could be manipulated to enhance the efficiency of pig production. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Description | This BBSRC China partnering award allowed us to establish a collaboration with the Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan China. Through a series of meetings either at the University of Nottingham or Huazhong Agricultural University we were able to provide an opportunity to discuss research findings and appropriate analytical techniques. An added impact of these meetings was that collectively the two academic institutions were able to engage with the global animal health pharmaceutical company Zoetis. This has enabled to access funding from Zoetis to support a PhD studentship as well as secure additional funding to support a BBSRC-LINK project BB/M001385/1. This research is directly involved in the economic impact of determining how to improve the efficiency of pig growth The China Partnering award has allowed exchange of academics. This has included an extended period of training for Dr Xinyun Li from Huazhong Agricultural University in techniques associated with pig stem cell technologies which he will be able to disseminate to colleagues at his home institution. The exchanges have enable engagement of a range of UK scientists with numerous academics, early career researchers as well as post-graduate research students from China. This was particularly the case in the Workshop; Insights into Animal Production: from Stem Cells and Systems Biology to Pig Production (July 2014). The meeting endeavored to share our current research findings and share best research practice in the area of pig production science. Alongside this scientific outcome various team building events allowed participants to develop a good understanding of the cultural and societal aspects that underpin the practice of science in China. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
| Description | BBSRC response mode |
| Amount | £592,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/M001466/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2015 |
| End | 12/2017 |
| Description | BBSRC-LINK project |
| Amount | £803,630 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/M001385/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2015 |
| End | 12/2017 |
| Description | British Council Sino-UK Higher Education Partnership for PhD Studies award |
| Amount | £32,800 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2012 |
| End | 12/2014 |
| Description | PhD studentship |
| Organisation | Huazhong Agricultural University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Chinese PhD student recommended by China partners in Huazhong Agricultural University, Student began PhD at University of Nottingham in October 2012. Funding is joint China scholarship council and University of Nottingham (Vice Chancellor's award). Subsequent to this funding further funding has been provided by Zoetis Ltd (£30K) as a direct result of lobbying by academics from University of Nottingham and Huazhong Agricultural University through discussions enabled via the China Partnering award BB/J019984/1 PI - Dr Ramiro Alberio. Co-I's Dr Tim Parr and John Brameld |
| Collaborator Contribution | Identification of a suitable student to be awarded the PhD position. identification of the potential applications of the outcomes of the research to pig production systems within China. |
| Impact | Work on the PhD programme has supported a successful BBSRC research project application BB/M001466/1; Ontogeny of the germline in non-rodent mammal; (award £592K FEC) |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Visiting Academic from Huazhong Agricultural University |
| Organisation | Huazhong Agricultural University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The collaboration involved a visit by Dr Xinyun Li from Huazhong Agricultural University to the University of Nottingham from Oct 2013 to June 2014. During this time Dr Li was hosted in Dr Ramiro Alberio's research laboratory. Dr Xinyun Li was instructed in various Pig Stem cell methodologies. This included the development of techniques to use induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells from pig fibroblasts to generate myogenic precursor lines using inducible forms of the myogenic regulatory factors. This enables us to control the precise timing for generating myoblasts and optimise the production of muscle cells at different developmental stages. This collaboration was part of the China partnering Award BB/J019984/1, where Dr Li's living expenses were covered by the grant. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The contribution of the partners (Huazhong Agricultural University) in this collaboration was to ensure Dr Li's salary was paid during his stay at the University of Nottingham in order to support his family who had remained in China. |
| Impact | Work from this collaboration has supported the development of new methodologies which can support our ongoing work both in collaboration with Huazhong Agricultural University and ongoing work associated with grant BB/M001385/1; Novel targets for increased muscle growth or feed efficiency. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | BSAS invited talk 2017 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk entitled "Use of transcriptomics to identify mechanisms of improved growth and feed efficiency" presented at British Society for Animal Science conference in Chester, April 2017 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Delegation from Huazhong Agricultural University, China to University of Nottingham, Nov 2012 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Huazhong Agricultural University, China partners (Shuhong Zhao, Xinyun Li) visited Nottingham University in November 2012. Meeting incorporated a delegation from the Swine Performance Optimization Nexus, Zoetis Ltd. Zoetis contributed to the costs incurred for this meeting. Collaborative discussions were conducted and recent results discussed focused around feed utilisation efficiency, this included research outcomes from the Zoetis BBSRC-LINK project, Feed Efficiency: A systems integrative biology, BB/J005320/1 (Sept 2012-Aug 2015) and work being undertaken at Huazhong Agricultural University Through collaborative discussion a application was submitted for a British Council Sino-UK partnership award which was successfully funded in Dec 2012. This award was to allow exchange of research students and staff (predominantly PhD and career researchers) between Huazhong Agricultural University, China and Nottingham University to try to establish links between the two Universities that would support the exchange of post-graduate students on joint MRes or MSc programmes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | University of Nottingham and Huazhong Agricultural University partners visit to Zoetis, USA. August 2013 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Drs Parr and Brameld from the University of Nottingham along with our representatives from China partners (Prof Shuhong Zhao and Prof Mei Yu) from Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China, visited the Swine Performance Optimization Nexus, at Zoetis Ltd, Kalamazoo, USA. Zoetis covered the costs incurred for this meeting for both Universities. Collaborative discussions were conducted and recent results discussed focused around feed utilisation efficiency, this included research outcomes from the Zoetis BBSRC-LINK project, Feed Efficiency: A systems integrative biology BB/J005320/1 (Sept 2012-Aug 2015) and work being undertaken at Huazhong Agricultural University As part of the meeting funding for to support the PhD studentship for Haixin Zhang was secured from Zoetis (£30,000) which would be additional to the funding for this PhD position from the University of Nottingham and China scholarship Council and funding (Oct 2012 - Sept 2016). The Objective of this studentship project was to isolation and generation of STEM cells from germ cells isolated from pigs (supervised by Dr Ramiro Alberio (PI), Drs Brameld and Parr (Co-Is). A commitment from Zoetis was obtained to support a BBSRC LINK application submission for research work to the current extend the BBSRC-LINK project; Pig Feed Efficiency: A systems integrative biology, BB/J005320/1 (Sept 2012-2013). This originally was to include a collaborative input from Huazhong Agricultural University through funding from the China Scholarship Council. However subsequent to this meeting a change Zoetis corporate research funding strategy met that they no longer wished to support collaborative projects between China and Western universities. However Zoetis did still support a BBSRC LINK proposal which was successfully funded in June 2014, BB/M001385/1: Novel targets for increased muscle growth or feed efficiency. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | University of Nottingham visit to Huazhong Agricultural University, China March 2013 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Simon Welham visited China partners in Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan and Beijing. Discussed further collaborations with Wuhan partners and developed new links with a group in Beijing (Jianguo Zhao - PI). Accompanying Dr Welham were Drs Ramiro Alberio and Kevin Ryan. Their trip was funded by British Council Sino-UK partnership award. Both were involved with Dr Welham in discussions with our partners Huazhong Agricultural University. Collaborative discussions were undertaken and also instruction was received in the use of bioinformatics programmes for the analysis of micrRNA date generated by RNA seq analysis. no actual impacts realised to date |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | University of Nottingham visit to Huazhong Agricultural University, China, June 2012 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Drs Parr and Brameld visited China partners at Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China. Meeting incorporated a delegation from the Swine Performance Optimization Nexus, Zoetis Ltd. Zoetis contributed to the costs incurred for this meeting including Drs Parr and Brameld travel costs, whilst our Chinese hosts covered accommodation and travel cost in China. Collaborative discussions were conducted and recent results discussed. Visit included interviewing potential students from Huazhong Agricultural University for PhD position at the University of Nottingham. Impacts of this meeting include appointment of PhD student Haixin Zhang to start in Oct 2013 funded by the University of Nottingham and China scholarship Council. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Workshop between University of Nottingham and Hauzhong Agricultural University at Wuhan, China, July 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A party of 12 academics and PhD students went to Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China to hold a joint workshop. The workshop was entitled, Insights into Animal Production Science: from stem cells and systems biology to pig production. The event was supported by funding from the BBSRC China Partnering Award, Huazhong Agricultural University, along with British Council Sino-UK partnership award, which enabled the attendance of range of academic staff and PhD students with a range of expertise. The event consisted of 2 days of seminars describing research carried out at University of Nottingham and covered areas related to pig production which included pig nutrition and production systems, molecular biology of the systems regulating pig growth, factors influencing pig reproduction as well as information on the application bioinformatics and systems biology to pig production research. Presentations were given by academics, post-doctoral researchers and PhD students from University of Nottingham, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shandong Agriculture Universty, South China Agricultural University and Nanjing Agricultural University. In addition there were 3 days of lab based workshops covering the practical aspects of the research described in the seminars. These workshops were given by University of Nottingham academic staff and PhD students and were set up and administered by a member of the University of Nottingham technical staff whose attendance at the workshop enabled this laboratory based component to work. Alongside this scientific outcome various team building events allowed participants to develop a good understanding of the cultural and societal aspects that underpin the practice of science in China. In addition the academics from the University of Nottingham had a series of meetings with senior administrators in Huazhong Agricultural University exploring the establishment of an MOU, or key laboratory status, between the two universities. This would enable access to China Scholarship Council funding. The objective would be establish a programme which allowed Chinese students to intercalate a UK based 1 year MRes into their China based MSc (3 years). Sharing of research methods and findings between researchers from the UK and China. Strengthen collaborative ties between University of Nottingham and Huazhong Agricultural University in the area of pig production. Development of an MOU between the two universities with a view to enable the exchange research staff between the two. Negotiations for this MOU are ongoing (Oct 2014) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Workshop: Sustainable Pig Production: knowledge and technology exchange between UK and Thailand. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a Newton Fund Researchers Workshop 2015/16 (Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and British Council). workshop was a jointly run between Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China and the University of Nottingham. It took place at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Bangkok.1-4th march 2016. The workshop contained over 50 delegates both from across Thailand and UK. The seminars covered fundamental aspects of pig production (principally pig nutrition), along with areas associated with breeding, disease control, welfare, waste management and meat quality. Within the workshop some of the work being carried on our BBSRC LINK projects (BB/J005320/1 and BB/M001385/1) was described. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.agri.kmitl.ac.th/SPPW/ |