title: Effect of prenatal programming on heifer development.
abstract: In beef cattle, the main factors influencing nutrient partitioning between the dam and fetus include age of the dam, number of fetuses, production demand, and environmental stress. These factors play a critical role in programming the fetus for its future environment and available resources. Fetal programming reportedly affects neonatal mortality and morbidity, postnatal growth rate, body composition, health, and reproduction. Two main mechanisms responsible for fetal programming include DNA methylation and histone modifications. Alterations in the genome can be passed through multiple generations. Maternal environment (nutrition, age, physiologic status) can program progeny heifer growth and reproductive performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, West Central Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 402 West State Farm Road, North Platte, NE 69101, USA. Electronic address: Rick.funston@unl.edu.
authors.forename: Richard N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Funston
authors.forename: Adam F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Summers
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Beef cow; Epigenetic modification; Fetal programming; Maternal nutrition