The objective of these experiments was to establish the relationship of plasma ghrelin concentrations with feed intake and hormones indicative of nutritional state of cattle. In Exp.1, 4 steers (BW 450 +/- 14.3 kg) were used in a crossover design to compare plasma ghrelin concentrations of feed-deprived steers with those of steers allowed to consume feed and to establish the relationship of plasma ghrelin concentrations with those of GH, insulin (INS), glucose (GLU), and NEFA. After adaptation to a once-daily feed offering (0800), 2 steers continued the once-daily feeding schedule (FED), whereas feed was withheld from the other 2 steers (FAST). Serial blood samples were collected via indwelling jugular catheter from times equivalent to 22 h through 48 h of feed deprivation. Average plasma ghrelin concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in FAST compared with FED (690 and 123 +/- 6.5 pg/mL) steers. Average plasma ghrelin concentrations for FED steers prefeeding were elevated (P < 0.001) when compared with those postfeeding (174 and 102 +/- 4.2 pg/mL, respectively). Average plasma GH concentration was elevated (P < 0.05) for FAST steers compared with FED steers. Plasma GLU concentrations were not different; however, for FAST steers, NEFA concentrations were elevated (P < 0.001) and INS concentrations were decreased (P < 0.001). In Exp. 2, 4 steers (BW 416 +/- 17.2 kg) were used in a crossover design to determine the effects of i.v. injection of bovine ghrelin (bGR) on plasma GH, INS, GLU, and NEFA concentrations; length of time spent eating; and DMI. Steers were offered feed once daily (0800). Serial blood samples were collected from steers via indwelling jugular catheter. Saline or bGR was injected via jugular catheter at 1200 and 1400. A dosage of 0.08 microg/kg of BW bGR was used to achieve a plasma ghrelin concentration similar to the physiological concentration measured in a FAST steer in Exp. 1 (1,000 pg/mL). Injection of bGR resulted in elevated (P < 0.005) plasma GH concentrations after the 1200 but not the 1400 injection. Plasma INS, GLU, and NEFA concentrations were not affected by bGR injection. For the combined 1-h periods postinjection, length of time spent eating was greater (P = 0.02) and DMI tended to be increased (P = 0.06) for bGR steers. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that ghrelin serves as a metabolic signal for feed intake or energy balance in ruminants.

Research has suggested that maternal undernutrition may cause the development of a thrifty phenotype in the offspring, potentially resulting in greater adiposity and reduced muscle mass. These alterations in adipose and muscle development could have lasting impacts on offspring growth, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. However, limited research exists evaluating the impact of maternal energy status on these economically important traits of the offspring. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the influence of maternal energy status during midgestation on offspring carcass characteristics and meat quality. To alter maternal energy status, cows either grazed dormant, winter range (positive energy status [PES]) or were fed in a drylot at 80% of the energy requirements for BW maintenance (negative energy status [NES]) during a mean period of 102 ± 10.9 to 193 ± 10.9 d of gestation. Changes in BCS, BW, LM area (LMA), and 12th rib backfat were measured throughout midgestation. At the end of midgestation, cows in the NES group had a reduction (P ≤ 0.05) in BCS, BW, LMA, and 12th rib backfat when compared with PES dams. Cows and calves were managed similarly after midgestation through weaning and calves were managed and fed a common diet through the receiving, backgrounding, and finishing phases in the feedlot. Calves were harvested after 208 d in the feedlot, carcass characteristics were recorded, and strip loins were recovered for analysis of objective color and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF). Maternal energy status had no influence on offspring HCW, dressing percent, LMA, percent KPH, marbling score, percent intramuscular fat, objective color, or WBSF (P > 0.10). Progeny of NES cows tended to have improvements in 12th rib backfat and USDA yield grade (P < 0.10). Greater ratio of marbling score to 12th rib fat thickness and ratio of percent intramuscular fat to 12th rib fat thickness (P < 0.05) were discovered in progeny from cows experiencing a NES during midgestation. These results suggest that maternal energy status during midgestation may impact fat deposition in intramuscular and subcutaneous fat depots without impacting muscle mass.

The objective of this trial was to determine whether a single bolus of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25-OH D 3 ), vitamin E, or a combination of the 2 would improve the tenderness of steaks from the LM of beef heifers. Forty-eight Angus crossbred heifers were allotted randomly to 8 pens. Six heifers were in each pen, and there were 2 pens per treatment. The 4 treatments included control (no 25-OH D 3 or vitamin E); 25-OH D 3 (500 mg of 25-OH D 3 administered as a one-time oral bolus 7 d before slaughter); vitamin E (1,000 IU of vitamin E administered daily as a top-dress for 104 d before slaughter); or combination (500 mg of 25-OH D 3 administered as a one-time oral bolus 7 d before slaughter and 1,000 IU of vitamin E administered daily as a top-dress for 104 d before slaughter). Blood samples were obtained on the day that heifers were allotted to treatments, on the day 25-OH D 3 was administered, and on the day before slaughter. Plasma calcium concentration was increased when 25-OH D 3 was administered with or without vitamin E (P < 0.007). In LM, calcium concentration tended to increase (P = 0.10) when 25-OH D 3 was administered alone but not

Four ruminally cannulated steers (BW 581 +/- 12.8 kg) were used in a crossover design to determine the effects of prolonged, moderate nutrient restriction on plasma ghrelin concentrations and to establish the relationship of plasma ghrelin concentrations with hormones and metabolites indicative of nutritional status and end products of rumen fermentation. A high-grain diet was offered at 240% of the intake needed for BW maintenance (2.4xM) or 80% of the intake needed for BW maintenance (0.8xM). To standardize, all steers were acclimated to 2.4xM before initiation of the treatment periods. During period 1, 2 steers continued at 2.4xM, whereas intake for the remaining 2 steers was restricted to 0.8xM. On d 7, 14, and 21 after initiation of the restriction, serial blood samples were collected at 15-min intervals via indwelling jugular catheter and were assayed for ghrelin, GH, NEFA, insulin, and glucose concentrations. Rumen fluid was collected at hourly intervals for evaluation of pH and VFA concentrations. After period 1, steers were weighed, the treatments were switched between steer groups, and the intake amounts were recalculated. Intake of 2.4xM was established for previously restricted cattle, and period 2 was then conducted as described for period 1. Data were analyzed statistically as repeated measures in time, and stepwise regression was used to define the relationship of plasma ghrelin with hormones, metabolites, and end products of rumen fermentation. Throughout the 21-d treatment period, plasma ghrelin concentrations were elevated (P

The objective of this study was to determine whether altered maternal energy supply during mid-gestation results in differences in muscle histology or genes regulating fetal adipose and muscle development. In total, 22 Angus cross-bred heifers (BW = 527.73 ± 8.3 kg) were assigned randomly to the three dietary treatments providing 146% (HIGH; n = 7), 87% (INT; n = 7) or 72% (LOW; n = 8) of the energy requirements for heifers from day 85 to day 180 of gestation. Fetuses were removed via cesarean section at day 180 of gestation and longissimus muscle (LM) and subcutaneous fat were collected and prepared for analysis of gene expression. Samples from the LM and semitendinosus (ST) were evaluated for muscle fiber diameter, area and number. The right hind limb was dissected and analyzed to determine compositional analysis. Fetal growth and muscle histology characteristics of the LM and ST were similar among treatments. Preadipocyte factor-1 expression was up-regulated in fetal LM ( P < 0.05) of HIGH fetuses as compared with INT, whereas LOW fetuses showed increased CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-β (C/EBP-β) expression in LM as compared with INT ( P < 0.05). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γand C/EBP-α did not differ as a result of dietary treatment in LM or subcutaneous fat samples. There was a tendency for increased expression of fatty acid synthase in LM of LOW fetuses as compared with INT ( P < 0.10). Myogenin was more highly expressed ( P < 0.05) in LM of the LOW fetuses, whereas μ-calpain expression was increased in the HIGH treatment compared with INT. A tendency for increased expression of IGF-II was observed for both LOW and HIGH fetuses compared with INT ( P < 0.10). Expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase, myoblast determination protein 1, myogenic factor 5, myogenic regulatory factor-4, m-calpain, calpastatin, IGF-I and myostatin was similar between treatments. Collectively, these results suggest that fetal growth characteristics are not affected by the level of maternal nutritional manipulation imposed in this study during mid-gestation. However, differences in expression of fetal genes regulating adipose and muscle tissue growth and development could lead to differences in postnatal composition and warrants further investigation.