Dam parity affects fetal growth, placental size, and neonatal metabolism in spring-born beef calves

Abstract

To determine effects of dam parity on perinatal nutrient availability in beef cattle, data and samples were collected from 18 primiparous and 35 multiparous spring-calving Sim-Angus dams and their calves. Time to stand was recorded and neonatal vigor assessed. Jugular blood was collected from a subset of calves at 0 (post-standing and pre-suckling) 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of age, and blood chemistry panels were completed. Expelled placentas were dissected, dried, and weighed. Prepartum maternal circulating glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), triglycerides, and urea N were analyzed. All statistical models included the fixed effect of dam parity, and calf sex (when P ≤ 0.25) was included for calf and placental variables. Effects of sampling hour, and parity × hour were included for calf metabolites over time using repeated measures. Multiparous dams had greater body weight prepartum (P < 0.001) but similar (P = 0.25) body condition score. Maternal circulating urea N and triglycerides were greater (P ≤ 0.05) in multiparous dams pre-calving. Calves born to primiparous dams weighed 10% less (P ≤ 0.04) at birth with smaller (P ≤ 0.01) heart and abdominal girths. Cotyledonary, intercotyledonary, and total placental masses were less (P ≤ 0.05) for primiparous dams. Dam parity did not affect (P ≥ 0.58) calf time to stand, vigor score at 10 min, or rectal temperature. Serum glucose was greater (P = 0.03) at 0 h but less (P ≤ 0.04) at all other hours in calves from primiparous dams. Calves from primiparous dams had greater (P ≤ 0.02) serum NEFA at 6, 12, and 24 h although plasma triglycerides were greater (P < 0.001) at 6 h. Calves from primiparous dams had greater (P ≤ 0.04) serum urea N at 12 h and creatinine at 12 and 24 h. Plasma insulin was greater (P ≤ 0.04) in calves from multiparous dams at 12, 48, and 72 h, but parity did not affect (P ≥ 0.18) serum total protein or plasma cortisol. Serum aspartate aminotransferase was greater (P ≤ 0.04) at 6 and 24 h, creatine kinase was greater at 24 h, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase was less (P ≤ 0.04) at 6, 12, and 24 h, for calves from primiparous dams. Calves born to primiparous dams had greater (P ≤ 0.02) total bilirubin and direct bilirubin at 12 and 24 h. Data indicate that calves born to first-parity heifers had decreased perinatal nutrient availability, resulting in reduced fetal and placental growth, as well as greater energy reserve mobilization and metabolic indicators of stress as neonates.

Interaction between gestational plane of nutrition and lactation diet composition on lactation performance of Alpine goats of different parities

“…But there is cognizance that such long-term research programs are difficult to initiate and even are more challenging to maintain. The parity effect on birth BW and litter weight was also observed in other studies 34 .…”

Late gestational nutrient restriction in primiparous beef females: nutrient partitioning among the dam, fetus, and colostrum during gestation

“…It should be noted that fall-calving females in the current study were housed in partially-covered pens during late gestation, and no signs of heat stress were apparent. With adequate maternal nutrition, fetal growth is generally less in primiparous dams compared with multiparous dams ( Holland and Odde, 1992 ; Duncan et al, 2023 ), so the use of first-parity females in the current study may have affected our results. First-parity beef females, who are establishing a gravid uterus for the first time, may respond to gestational undernutrition differently than multiparous cows who have had previous successful pregnancies.…”

Effects of copper, zinc, and manganese source and inclusion during late gestation on beef cow–calf performance, mineral transfer, and metabolism

“…After birth, each calf was monitored to record time of standing (defined as calf being up on all 4 feet for 5 consecutive seconds) for calculation of time to stand, and at 10 min of age each calf was assigned a vigor score (1 = very weak to 5 = extremely vigorous) as described by Duncan et al (2022) . Calf birth weight, shoulder to rump length, heart girth, abdominal girth, flank girth, and cannon circumference were determined at 1.36 ± 2.70 h of age as described by Redifer et al (2023) .…”