Effects of herbage allowance of native grasslands in purebred and crossbred beef cows: metabolic, endocrine and hepatic gene expression profiles through the gestation–lactation cycle

Abstract

Our objective was to evaluate the metabolic, endocrine and hepatic mRNA profiles through the gestation-lactation cycle in purebred (PU: Angus and Hereford) and crossbred (CR: reciprocal F1 crosses) mutliparous beef cows (n = 32), grazing on two herbage allowances of native pastures (2.5 v. 4 kg dry matter/kg BW; LO v. HI) and their associations with cow's productive performance (calf birth weight, milk production and commencement of luteal activity). Cow BW, body condition score (BCS) and blood samples were collected monthly, starting at − 165 days relative to calving (days), and every 2 weeks after calving until +60 days of lactation. Liver biopsies were collected at − 165, − 75, − 45, − 15 ± 10, and +15 and +60 ± 3 days. Metabolic, endocrine and hepatic gene expression profiles, and calf birth weight, milk yield and postpartum commencement of luteal activity were evaluated. Overall, the most pronounced changes in metabolic, endocrine and hepatic gene expression occurred during winter gestation (−165 to − 45 days), when all cows experienced the onset of a negative energy balance (decreased BCS, glucose and insulin, and increased non-esterified fatty acid concentrations, P < 0.008). Concentrations of insulin and IGF-I were greater (P < 0.037) in HI than in LO cows. However, serum IGF-I concentrations and hepatic growth hormone receptor (GHR) and IGF1 mRNA decreased (P < 0.05) during the winter gestation period only in HI cows. Although IGF-I concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) during the early postpartum (−15 v. + 15 days) for all cows, the typical molecular mechanism that control the uncoupling of the growth hormone-IGF1 axis during the transition period of the dairy cattle (reduced hepatic GHR1A and IGF-I mRNA) was not observed in this study. The hepatic mRNA expression of key transcripts involved in gluconeogenesis and fatty-acid oxidation were upregulated (P < 0.05) during winter gestation (from − 165 to − 45, − 15 or +15 days, depending on the cow groups). Particularly, acyl-CoA oxidase-1 mRNA was greater for CR than for PU cows during winter gestation (−75 and − 45 days), and fibroblast growth factor-21 mRNA was downregulated (P < 0.01) only for HI cows during the transition (−15 v. 15 days) and lactation period (+15 to +60 days, P < 0.01). These results, together with the greater BCS, estimated energy intake, increased milk yield and shorter commencement of luteal activity in HI than in LO, and in CR than in PU cows (P < 0.018), would indicate that HI and CR cows were able to adapt more efficiently to changes in nutrient and energy supply through the gestation-lactation cycle.

Effects of energy-protein supplementation frequency on performance of primiparous grazing beef cows during pre and postpartum

“…Nutrient intake pre- and postpartum influences concen trations of IGF-1 in serum of primiparous lactating beef cows [ 28 ]. Reduced nutrient intake uncouples the growth hormone (GH)–IGF-1 axis and it increases GH secretion in cattle; whereas serum concentrations of IGF-1 are decreased.…”

Influences of nutrition and metabolism on reproduction of the female ruminant

“…The NEB is associated with decreased IGFBP3 and increased IGFBP2 shifting this binding to IGF-I/IGFBP2 complex and reducing the half-life of IGF-I (Jones and Clemmons, 1995;Laporta et al, 2014). In our experiments, plasma IGF-I turned out to be the best marker integrating the static (body reserves) and acute effects of nutrition in sheep (Fernández-Foren et al, 2011), dairy (Meikle et al, 2004a;Adrien et al, 2012) and beef cows (Soca et al, 2013a;Laporta et al, 2014). Indeed, Adrien et al (2012) suggested that insulin profiles were associated more to day-to-day nutritional inputs, while IGF-I profiles more likely reflected the changes in energy balance.…”

“…However, intrafollicular IGF-I concentrations were greater in cows grazing high herbage allowance of native pastures consistent with an earlier postpartum ovulation in these cows (Carriquiry et al, 2011). Likewise, there is an inverse relationship between plasma IGF-I/insulin and duration of postpartum anestrus in beef and dairy cows (Lucy, 2001;Meikle et al, 2004;Quintans et al, 2010;Soca et al, 2013a;Laporta et al, 2014).…”

Estimation of Energy Expenditure in Breeding Cows Grazing Rangelands with Different Herbage Allowance

“…This variation throughout the year affects, among other factors, affects beef cow energy intake (Aharoni et al 2013) and maintenance requirements (Brosh, 2007). Particularly, in winter and early spring when forage availability and production are low and beef cow energy requirements rise due to gestation and early lactation, a negative energy balance is stablished (Laporta et al, 2014). This negative energy balance is reflected in low body condition score (BCS) at calving and breeding season (Soca et al, 2013a;Do Carmo et al, 2016) and determines extended postpartum anestrus, early embryonic death, and reduced pregnancy and weaning rates, explaining reduced reproductive and productive responses (Hess et al, 2005;Soca et al, 2014).…”