Long-term effects of maternal subnutrition in early pregnancy on cow-calf performance, immunological and physiological profiles during the next lactation

Noya, Agustí ; Casasús, Isabel ; Ferrer, Javier ; Sanz, Albina

Resumen: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of undernutrition during the first third of gestation on cow-calf performance, immunological and physiological profiles during the next lactation in two cattle breeds. Fifty-three Parda de Montaña (PA) and 32 Pirenaica (PI) cows were inseminated, assigned to one of two diets (CONTROL or SUBNUT; 100% or 65% of their requirements) until day 82 of gestation, and fed 100% of the requirements during gestation and next lactation. Cow and calf performance were assessed during lactation. Colostrum and cow-calf plasma samples were analyzed to assess the passive transfer of immunoglobulins and to characterize energy metabolism. At calving, SUBNUT cows had a lower body condition score, which impaired most of the cow-calf parameters. All cows had considerable weight losses during lactation except for SUBNUT-PI cows. Colostrum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentration was lower in SUBNUT-PI cows, and milk fat content was higher in SUBNUT cows. SUBNUT calves had lower values of body measurements at weaning, and calves born from SUBNUT-PI dams had lower milk intake and the lowest average daily gain (ADG), which was reflected in their lower plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration. In conclusion, undernutrition in early gestation in suckler cows had long-term effects on offspring postnatal growth, this physiological evidence being more severe in Pirenaica cow-calf pairs.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.3390/ani9110936

Año: 2019

Publicado en: Animals 9, 11 (2019), 936 [17 pp.]
ISSN: 2076-2615

Factor impacto JCR: 2.323 (2019)

Categ. JCR: VETERINARY SCIENCES rank: 14 / 141 = 0.099 (2019) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE rank: 10 / 63 = 0.159 (2019) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.601 - Veterinary (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Animal Science and Zoology (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/A14-17R
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/INIA/RTA2013-00059-C02
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO-INIA/RZP2015–001

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)