Roberto D. Sainz, Ph.D.

Position Title

Professor Emeritus

rdsainz@ucdavis.edu

Education

B.S., Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 1982.
M.S., Animal Science, University of California, Davis, 1984.
Ph.D., Nutrition, University of California, Davis 1986.

Research Interests

Our laboratory focuses on ruminant livestock production, across geographic locations and levels of biological organization. Projects range from examination of interactions among nutrition, genetics and physiological state, all the way to regional studies of environmental impacts of different production systems.

Recently, a major emphasis has been on understanding the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying variations in feed efficiency in beef cattle. This work requires in vivo experiments in conjunction with in silico modeling analyses.

Mathematical modeling is used at all levels of biological and enterprise organization to identify critical areas of research, design appropriate experiments, and aid in interpretation of results.

Laboratory Website

http://sainz.faculty.ucdavis.edu

Lab Members

Graduate students

Owen Cortner, M.S. Program, International Agricultural Development Graduate Group. Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2017.
Katherine Dykier, M.S. Program, Animal Biology Graduate Group. Expected Graduation Date: Fall 2016.
Angela Thresher, M.S. Program, International Agricultural Development Graduate Group. Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2016.

Undergraduate students

Carrie Fales, B.S., Animal Science
Sheyenne Augenstein, B.S., Animal Science

Visiting scholars

Cláudio Inácio Cassela, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
Gabriela Galvão, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
Nayara Andreo, State University of Londrina, Brazil

Alumni

Michael Chao, MS - Thesis Topic: The Prebiotic effect of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine to Promote Growth of Cellulolytic Bacteria in Rumen and Possible Replacement of the Use of Antimicrobial Supplement in Cattle
Karla Alves Magalhaes, PhD - Thesis Topic: Brazilian Table Of Nutrient Requeriment Of Zebu Cattle And Chemical Composition Of Feedstuffs
Gustavo Durante Cruz, PhD - Thesis Topic: Determining the effects of background on adipocyte development in beef cattle

Graduate Groups

International Agricultural Development
Nutritional Biology

Selected Publications

Sainz, R. D., F. De la Torre, and J. W. Oltjen. 1995. Compensatory growth and carcass quality in growth-restricted and refed beef steers. Journal of Animal Science 73:2971-2979.

Oltjen, J. W., and R. D. Sainz. 1995. Mechanistic, dynamic models of growth. In (Baldwin, R. L., Ed.) Modelling Ruminant Digestion and Metabolism, pp. 441-468. Chapman & Hall Ltd. Scientific, London.

Baldwin, R. L., and R. D. Sainz. 1995. Energy partitioning and modeling in animal nutrition. Annual Reviews in Nutrition 15:191-211.

Sainz, R. D., and E. Hasting. 2000. Simulation of the development of adipose tissue in beef cattle. In: (McNamara, J. P., J. France, and D. E. Beever, Eds.) Modelling Nutrient Utilization in Farm Animals, pp. 175-182. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K.

Sainz, R. D.. 2003. Framework for calculating fossil fuel use in livestock systems. Developed under the auspices of the Livestock, Environment and Development Initiative, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.http://www.fao.org/wairdocs/lead/x6100e/x6100e00.htm

Garcia, F., R. D. Sainz, J. Agabriel, L. G. Barioni, and J. W. Oltjen. 2008. Comparative analysis of two dynamic mechanistic models of beef cattle growth. Animal Feed Science and Technology 143: 220–241.

Hausman, G. J., M. V. Dodson, K. Ajuwon, M. Azain, K. M. Barnes, L. L. Guan, Z. Jiang, S. P. Poulos, R. D. Sainz, S. Smith, M. Spurlock, J. Novakofski, M. E. Fernyhough, and W. G. Bergen. 2009. BOARD-INVITED REVIEW: The biology and regulation of preadipocytes and adipocytes in meat animals. Journal of Animal Science 87:1218-1246.

Sainz, R. D., L. G. Barioni, G. B. Martha Jr., and F.M.Mitloehner. 2009. Scientific bases for definition of policies regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – the case of the Paraguayan livestock sector. Proceedings of the Symposium on Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Animal Production: A Policy Agenda, Asunción, Paraguay, 6-7 May 2009. Available at: http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/home/en/news_archive/Proceedings _IGG09/Proceedings_IGG09.pdf.

Yokoo, M. J., R. B. Lobo, F. R. C. Araujo, L. A. F. Bezerra, R. D. Sainz, and L. G. Albuquerque. 2010. Genetic associations between carcass traits measured by real-time ultrasound and scrotal circumference and growth traits in Nelore cattle. Journal of Animal Science 2010 88: 52-58.

Cruz, G. D., J. A. Rodríguez-Sánchez, J. W. Oltjen and R. D. Sainz. 2010. Performance, residual feed intake, digestibility, carcass traits, and profitability of Angus-Hereford steers housed in individual or group pen. Journal of Animal Science 88:324-329.

Cannas, A., A. S. Atzori, I. A. M. A. Teixeira, R. D. Sainz and J. W. Oltjen. 2010. The energetic cost of maintenance in ruminants: from classical to new concepts and prediction systems. In: Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition (G. M. Crovetto, Ed.) pp. 531-542. European Assoc. for Anim. Prod. Publ. No. 127.

Oltjen, J. W., A. Cannas, A., A. S. Atzori, L. O. Tedeschi, R. D. Sainz and D. G. Fox. 2010. Integration of the Small Ruminant Nutrition System and of the UC Davis sheep growth model for improved predictions. In: Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition (G. M. Crovetto, Ed.) pp. 553-554. European Assoc. for Anim. Prod. Publ. No. 127.

Oltjen, J. W., R. D. Sainz, A. Cannas and L. O. Tedeschi. 2010. Note on the calculation of efficiency of feed use for maintenance and gain in feeding systems. In: Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition (G.M. Crovetto, Ed.) pp. 555-556. European Assoc. for Anim. Prod. Publ. No. 127.

Cruz, G. D., J. B. Trovo, J. W. Oltjen, and R. D. Sainz. 2011. Estimating feed efficiency: Evaluation of mathematical models to predict individual intakes of steers fed in group pens. Journal of Animal Science 89:1640–1649.

Thompson, V. A., J. G. Fadel and R. D. Sainz. 2011 Meta-analysis to predict sweating and respiration rates for Bos indicus, Bos taurus, and their crossbreds. Journal of Animal Science 89:3973-3982.

Miranda, L. F., N. M. Rodriguez, E. S. Pereira, A. C. de Queiroz, R. D. Sainz, P. G. Pimentel, and M. M. Gontijo Neto. 2012. Chemical composition and ruminal degradation kinetics of crude protein and amino acids, and intestinal digestibility of amino acids from tropical forages. Brazilian Animal Science Journal 41:717-725.

Sainz, R. D.. 2012. Modeling feed efficiency. In: R. A. Hill, Ed., Feed Efficiency in the Beef Industry. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.

Gomes, R. C., R. D. Sainz, S. L. Silva, M. C. César, M. N. Bonin, and P. R. Leme. 2012 Feedlot performance, feed efficiency reranking, carcass traits, body composition, energy requirements, meat quality and calpain system activity in Nellore steers with low and high residual feed intake. Livestock Science 150:265–273.

Gordo, D. G. M., F. Baldi, R. B. Lôbo, W. Koury Filho, R. D. Sainz and L. G. de Albuquerque. 2012. Genetic association between body composition measured by ultrasound and visual scores in Brazilian Nelore cattle. Journal of Animal Science 90:4223-4229.

Gomes, R. C., R. D. Sainz, and P. R. Leme. 2013. Protein metabolism, feed energy partitioning, behavior patterns and plasma cortisol in Nellore steers with high and low residual feed intake. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science 42: 44-50.

Sainz, R. D., G. D. Cruz, E. Mendes, C. U. Magnabosco, Y. B. Farjalla, F. R. C. Araujo, R. C. Gomes, and P. R. Leme. 2014. Performance, efficiency and estimated maintenance energy requirements of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle. In: Energy and Protein Metabolism and Nutrition in Sustainable Animal Production (J. W. Oltjen, E. Kebreab, and H. Lapierre, Eds.) pp. 69-70. European Assoc. for Anim. Prod. Publ. No. 134.

Magnabosco, C. U., F. B. Lopes, E. S. Miyagi, R. B. Lôbo, and R. D. Sainz. 2014. Multivariate approach of inter-relationships among growth, consumption and carcass traits in Nellore cattle. Revista Ciência Agronômica, 45: 168-176.

Castro, L. M., C. U. Magnabosco, R. D. Sainz, C. U. Faria, and F. B. Lopes. 2014. Quantitative genetic analysis for meat tenderness trait in Polled Nellore cattle. Revista Ciência Agronômica, 45: 393-402.

Thompson, V. A., L.G. Barioni, T. R. Rumsey, J.G. Fadel, and R. D. Sainz. 2014. The development of a dynamic, mechanistic, thermal balance model for Bos indicus and Bos taurus. Journal of Agricultural Science 152: 464–482.

Thompson, V. A., R. D. Sainz, A. B. Strathe, T. R. Rumsey, and J. G. Fadel. 2014. The evaluation of a dynamic, mechanistic, thermal balance model for Bos indicus and Bos taurus. Journal of Agricultural Science 152: 483–496.

Pereira, A. S. C., F. Baldi, R. D. Sainz, B. L. Utembergue, H. L. J. Chiaia, C. U. Magnabosco, F. R. Manicardi, F. R. C. Araujo, C. F. Guedes, R. C. Margarido, P. R. Leme, and P. J. A. Sobral. 2014. Growth performance, and carcass and meat quality traits in progeny of Poll Nellore, Angus and Brahman sires under tropical conditions. Animal Production Science (in press) doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/AN13505.

Ferreira, J. L., F. B. Lopes, L. S. Pereira, L. L. Nepomuceno, J. A. S. Garcia, R. B. Lôbo, and R. D. Sainz. 2015. Estimation of (co)variances for growth traits in Nellore cattle raised in the Humid Tropics of Brazil by random regression. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, Londrina, 36: 1713-1724. DOI: 10.5433/1679-0359.2015v36n3p1713.

Ferreira, J. L., F. B. Lopes, T. S. de Lira, J. A. S. Garcia, R. B. Lôbo, and R. D. Sainz. 2015. Genotype-environment interaction of maternal influence characteristics in Nellore cattle bred in the Brazilian humid tropical regions by reaction norm. Semina: Ciências Agrárias, Londrina, 36: 2787-2798. DOI: 10.5433/1679-0359.2015v36n4p2787.

Lopes, F. B., M. C. da Silva, C. U. Magnabosco, and R. D. Sainz. 2016. Selection indices and multivariate analysis show similar results in the evaluation of growth and carcass traits in beef cattle. PLoS ONE 11: e0147180. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147180.

Gerger, R. P. C. , F. C. Zago, E. S. Ribeiro, S. Gaudencio Neto, L. T. Martins, L. H. Aguiar, V. H. V. Rodrigues, F. H. Furlan, I. Ortigari, Jr., R. D. Sainz, C. L. FerrellE, M. A. Miglino, C. E. Ambrosio, J. L. Rodrigues, R. Rossetto, F. Forell, L. R. Bertolini, and M. Bertolini. 2016. Morphometric developmental pattern of bovine handmade cloned concepti in late pregnancy. Reproduction, Fertility and Development http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/RD15215.

Magnabosco, C. U., F. B. Lopes, R. C. Fragoso, E. C. Eifert, B. D. Valente, G. J. M. Rosa, and R. D. Sainz. 2016. Accuracy of genomic breeding values for meat tenderness in Polled Nellore cattle. Journal of Animal Science (in press).