scholarly journals The effect of precipitation received during gestation on progeny performance in Bos indicus influenced beef cattle

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 256-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joslyn K Beard ◽  
Gail A Silver ◽  
Eric J Scholljegerdes ◽  
Adam F Summers

Abstract The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the effect of precipitation level during key fetal development periods on beef progeny performance. The hypothesis that was precipitation level during different periods of gestation would program subsequent calves for an environment similar to that experienced in utero resulting in altered growth and reproductive performance. Data were collected on Brangus cows (n = 2,429) over a 46-yr span at the Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center. Recorded precipitation values were used to calculate average precipitation associated with total gestation (April–March), early gestation, (July–September), and late gestation (December–February). These values were used to classify treatments: low (z value ≤ –1.00), average (z value –0.99 to +0.99), and high (z value ≥ +1.00) for each time period. Calves experiencing high precipitation throughout gestation had heavier body weight (BW) at birth (P = 0.02), weaning (P = 0.05), and adjusted 205-d BW (P = 0.04) than those experiencing low precipitation . Female progeny gestated during low precipitation throughout gestation were more likely to remain (P < 0.0001) in the herd and calve after the age of 8 yr when compared to heifers experiencing high precipitation levels in utero (38% vs. 16% ± 5%, respectively). In addition, a greater percentage (P < 0.0001) of heifers experiencing low precipitation levels during the early gestation period produced a calf within the herd after 8 yr of age. Similarly, calves experiencing low precipitation during those same time points also had a greater number of calves while in production (P < 0.0001) when compared to the average and high precipitation groups. These results indicate that selection of heifers exposed to lower than average precipitation levels in utero may result in increased herd retention and productivity.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A751-A751
Author(s):  
Steve Mabry ◽  
E Nicole Wilson ◽  
Nataliya Rybalchenko ◽  
Rachel Engelland ◽  
Oluwadarasimi Fadeyibi ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: In utero insults have been linked with increased fear and anxiety in progeny. In utero hypoxic stress is associated with a multitude of gestational complications such as pregnancy-associated hypertensive disorders and intrauterine growth restriction. Maternal hypertension during pregnancy is also associated with increased mood and anxiety disorders in progeny. However, it is unknown if these associations are due to in utero hypoxic stress. We hypothesized that exposure to late gestational hypoxia will have a long-term impact on anxiety in progeny. Methods: Timed pregnant female Long-Evans rats were exposed to five days (gestational days: 15-20) of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) or room air (normoxia - 21% O2) for 8 hours during their sleep phase. Each CIH cycle was 6 min of 3 min hypoxia (10% O2) and 3 min normoxia (21% O2) for a total of 10 CIH cycles/hour. At weaning (PND 28), progeny was pair-housed with a conspecific of same sex and similar weight. To examine mood and anxiety disorders, we quantified anxiety-related behaviors (time spent in the center of open field arena, marble burying test, social and anti-social behaviors with conspecifics) along with quantifying food intake and circulating sex hormone levels during puberty (postnatal day, PND 40-45) and young adulthood (PND 60-65) in male and female progeny. Results: Gestational CIH did not impact circulating sex hormones or food intake, regardless of sex or age of progeny. However, gestational CIH increased anxiety related behaviors in pubertal females. These effects of gestational CIH on anxiety in pubertal females were not maintained, as these behaviors resolved in young adulthood. Gestational CIH did not impact male progeny, regardless of age. Conclusion: Exposure to CIH during gestation resulted in increased anxiety related behaviors in pubertal female progeny. In utero hypoxia during late gestation may temporarily increase the risk for mood and anxiety disorders in pubertal females.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A751-A752
Author(s):  
E Nicole Wilson ◽  
Steve Mabry ◽  
Nataliya Rybalchenko ◽  
Rachel Engelland ◽  
Oluwadarasimi Fadeyibi ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: In utero insults have been proposed to lead to the onset of neurodegenerative diseases later in life, such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). In utero hypoxia is associated with a multitude of conditions, such as maternal sleep apnea, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and maternal hypertension. Exposure to in utero hypoxia may impact male progeny more than female progeny, which may underlie the male biased sex differences in PD. It is currently unknown whether late gestational hypoxic stress has a long-term effect on brain regions associated with PD, such as the nigrostriatal pathway. We hypothesized that exposure to late gestational hypoxia will result in nigrostriatal impairment in adult male progeny compared to adult female progeny. Methods: Timed pregnant female Long-Evans rats were exposed to five days (gestational days: 15-20) of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) or room air (normoxia - 21% O2) for 8 hours during their sleep phase. Each CIH cycle was 6 min of 3 min hypoxia (10% O2) and 3 min normoxia (21% O2) for a total of 10 CIH cycles/hour. Gestational age at delivery was recorded and neonate’s body weights were measured within 12-16 hours from birth. At weaning (postnatal day, PND 28), progeny was pair-housed with a conspecific of the same sex and similar weight. To examine PD, we focused on PD associated characteristics of oxidative stress in the nigrostriatal pathway and behavioral impairments of motor (open field activity and ultrasonic vocalizations) and cognitive (spatial memory) function during puberty (PND 40-45) and young adulthood (PND 60-65). Results: Gestational CIH had no effect on the duration of gestation, litter size, and neonatal weight at birth. Gestational CIH did not impact circulating oxidative stress, regardless of sex or age of progeny. Offspring gross motor function (open field activity) and cognitive (Morris Water maze) function were unaffected by gestational CIH. In contrast, gestational CIH impaired ultrasonic vocalizations in adult male progeny. Gestational CIH increased the latency to vocalize and decreased the loudness of the vocalizations in adult male progeny. Conclusion: Exposure to CIH during gestation resulted in nigrostriatal impairment in adult male progeny, as evidenced by impaired ultrasonic vocalizations that require a functional nigrostriatal pathway. In utero hypoxia during late gestation may increase the risk for PD in males.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. s-0032-1319931-s-0032-1319931
Author(s):  
S. Al Rowas ◽  
R. Gawri ◽  
R. Haddad ◽  
A. Almaawi ◽  
L. E. Chalifour ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 59-59
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Palmer ◽  
Marcelo Vedovatto ◽  
Juliana Ranches ◽  
Vinicius Gouvea ◽  
Rhaiza Oliveira ◽  
...  

Abstract This study evaluated the growth, immunity, and carcass characteristics of beef steers born to cows offered dried distillers grains (DDG) at different timing during late gestation. Approximately 84 d before calving (d 0), 84 mature Brangus cows were stratified by BW and BCS (422 ± 42 kg; 5.0 ± 0.14) and allocated into 1 of 6 bahiagrass pastures (14 cows/pasture). Treatments were randomly assigned to pastures: 1) no prepartum supplementation (CON); 2) 1 kg/d DDG from d 0 to 84 (LATE84); or 3) 2 kg/d from d 0 to 42 (LATE42). Calves were weaned at 261 ± 23 d of age. At weaning, 38 steers were vaccinated against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV-1) and parainfluenza-3 (PI-3) and transported to a feedlot facility. Steers were penned according to cow prepartum pasture distribution and fed a similar diet until slaughter (d 587). Data were analyzed as complete randomized design using MIXED procedure of SAS, pasture as the experimental unit, treatment as fixed effect, and pasture(treatment) and steer(pasture) as random effects. Steer feedlot BW, ADG, DMI, and G:F did not differ (P ≥ 0.12) among treatments. Plasma haptoglobin concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.03) for LATE42 and LATE84 vs. CON steers 2 d after feedlot entry. Plasma cortisol and seroconversion for BVDV-1 and PI-3 did not differ (P ≥ 0.15) among treatments. The percentage of carcasses grading Choice did not differ (P = 0.13), but carcasses grading low Choice were greater (P = 0.03) for CON vs. LATE42, with LATE84 being intermediate (91, 40, and 58%, respectively). Thus, prepartum dried distillers grain supplementation to B. indicus-influenced cows did not enhance feedlot growth but had subtle positive impacts on carcass quality and innate immunity in steer progeny. In addition, timing of dried distillers grain supplementation (last 84 d vs. first 42 d of late gestation) did not impact steer post-weaning feedlot performance and carcass quality.


2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (6) ◽  
pp. 2352-2361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Rosbottom ◽  
E. Helen Gibney ◽  
Catherine S. Guy ◽  
Anja Kipar ◽  
Robert F. Smith ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The protozoan parasite Neospora caninum causes fetal death after experimental infection of pregnant cattle in early gestation, but the fetus survives a similar infection in late gestation. An increase in Th1-type cytokines in the placenta in response to the presence of the parasite has been implicated as a contributory factor to fetal death due to immune-mediated pathological alterations. We measured, using real-time reverse transcription-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the levels of cytokines in the placentas of cattle experimentally infected with N. caninum in early and late gestation. After infection in early gestation, fetal death occurred, and the levels of mRNA of both Th1 and Th2 cytokines, including interleukin-2 (IL-2), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), IL-12p40, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-18, IL-10, and IL-4, were significantly (P < 0.01) increased by up to 1,000-fold. There was extensive placental necrosis and a corresponding infiltration of CD4+ T cells and macrophages. IFN-γ protein expression was also highly increased, and a modest increase in transforming growth factor β was detected. A much smaller increase in the same cytokines and IFN-γ protein expression, with minimal placental necrosis and inflammatory infiltration, occurred after N. caninum infection in late gestation when the fetuses survived. Comparison of cytokine mRNA levels in separated maternal and fetal placental tissue that showed maternal tissue was the major source of all cytokine mRNA except for IL-10 and TNF-α, which were similar in both maternal and fetal tissues. These results suggest that the magnitude of the cytokine response correlates with but is not necessarily the cause of fetal death and demonstrate that a polarized Th1 response was not evident in the placentas of N. caninum-infected cattle.


2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (suppl_2) ◽  
pp. 200-200
Author(s):  
A C Lansford ◽  
J A Musgrave ◽  
R N Funston

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 139-139
Author(s):  
Jose Alejandro Roque ◽  
Mario Francisco Oviedo ◽  
Hector Aaron Lee ◽  
Alejandro E Relling

Abstract Polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation in late gestation change offspring metabolism; however, their effect is not well known on early gestation in ewes. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in pregnant ewes on the concentration of EPA and DHA on fetal liver (FL) and fetal central nervous system (FCNS), and to evaluate the effect of the supplementation with EPA+ DHA on mRNA expression of genes associated with transport and metabolism of fatty acids (FA) in FL and placenta (caruncles and cotyledons). Twelve ewes (4 pens, three per pen) were blocked by pregnancy day. The ewes were assigned during the first 45 d of gestation to diet with an addition of 1.5% (dry matter bases) monounsaturated FA (MUFA) or EPA+DHA. A C-section was conducted at d 45 of gestation to collect FL, FCNS, caruncle and cotyledon. Data were analyzed using a mixed procedure (SAS). For the placenta mRNA concentration, a 2x2 factorial was used considering caruncle and cotyledon as the second main factor. Isomers of C18:1 (t6,8 and t12) increase (P < 0.05) in FL and FCNS with MUFA supplementation, fatty acids C20:3 (n-6), C20:3 (n-3), C22:1, C22:5 and C22:6 increase (P < 0.05) in FL and FCNS with EPA+DHA supplementation. In FL there was a tendency to increase for mRNA expression of FATP-1 (P = 0.10) with EPA+DHA supplementation, while mRNA concentration for LPL was greater (P = 0.02) for MUFA supplementation. In placenta DNMT3b and FFAR-4 showed a significant FA x tissue interaction (P < 0.05). These results suggest that FA supplementation during early gestation alters the FA profile in FL and FCNS and changed mRNA concentration of genes involved in the transport of FA and cell metabolism.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 185-186
Author(s):  
Su A Lee ◽  
Carrie L Walk ◽  
Hans H Stein

Abstract The objective was to test the hypothesis that standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of Ca and Ca and P retention and the response to microbial phytase in diets fed to sows are constant throughout gestation. Thirty-six sows (parity = 3.3) were allotted to 4 diets on d 7 post-breeding. Two corn-based diets in which calcium carbonate was the sole source of Ca and 2 Ca-free diets were formulated without or with phytase (500 units per kg). Sows were housed individually in metabolism crates during early-gestation, mid-gestation, and late-gestation, and feces and urine were quantitatively collected. Data were analyzed by repeated measures using a model that included phytase, period of gestation, and the interaction between phytase and period as fixed effects, and block and replicate as random effects. Interactions between period and phytase were not observed. The basal endogenous loss (BEL) of Ca was greater (P < 0.05) in early-gestation than in mid- and late-gestation, but phytase reduced (P = 0.002) BEL of Ca and tended (P = 0.099) to increase apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of P in the Ca-free diet. Phytase did not affect ATTD of DM, STTD of Ca, ATTD of P, or Ca and P retention in sows fed the diet containing calcium carbonate (Table 1). The ATTD of DM was not affected by period, but Ca retention and ATTD of Ca and P were least (P < 0.05) in mid-gestation, followed by early- and late-gestation, and the STTD of Ca in mid-gestation was also reduced (P < 0.05) compared with early- or late-gestation. Phosphorus retention was greater (P < 0.05) in late-gestation than in the earlier periods. In conclusion, BEL of Ca, STTD of Ca, ATTD of P, and Ca and P retention in sows change throughout gestation regardless of use of phytase. http://www.conferenceharvester.com/


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