Nutrient intake in the bovine during early and mid-gestation causes sex-specific changes in progeny plasma IGF-I, liveweight, height and carcass traits.
Fetal and postnatal growth are mediated by insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs). Maternal nutrient intake during gestation can program the postnatal IGF-axis. This may have significant economic implications for beef cattle production. We investigated the effect of high (H=240%) and low (L=70%) levels of recommended daily crude protein (CP) intake for heifers during the first and second trimesters of gestation in a two-by-two factorial design on progeny (n=68) plasma IGF-I, IGF-II, total IGFBP (tIGFBP), postnatal growth and carcass traits. Calves were heavier at birth following high CP diets during the second trimester (P=0.03) and this persisted to 29d. Plasma IGF-I concentrations of males were greater for HL compared to LL (P<0.01) and HH (P>0.04) from 29 to 657d, and for LH compared to LL from 29 until 379d (P=0.02). Exposure to low CP diets during the first trimester resulted in heavier males from 191d onwards (P=0.04) but a tendency for lighter females from 552d onwards (P=0.07) that had lighter carcass weights (P=0.04). Longissimus dorsi cross-sectional area of all carcasses was greater following exposure to low CP diets during the second trimester (P=0.04). Heifer nutrient intake during the first and second trimesters causes persistent and sex-specific programming of progeny plasma IGF-I, postnatal liveweight and carcass weight. Refining heifer nutritional programs during early gestation may optimize production objectives in progeny.
Micke
G C
GC
The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia. ginamicke@hotmail.com
Sullivan
T M
TM
Gatford
K L
KL
Owens
J A
JA
Perry
V E A
VE
D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size / Q000502:physiology*; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000662:veterinary; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D018970:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D014508:Urea