Effects of maternal nutrient restriction during early or mid-gestation without realimentation on maternal physiology and foetal growth and development in beef cattle

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of early and mid-gestation nutrient restriction on maternal metabolites and foetal growth. Primiparous Angus cows were synchronized and inseminated with semen from one sire. Dietary treatments were: control to gain 1 kg/week (CON) or 0.55% maintenance energy and CP requirements (nutrient restricted; NR). A subset of dams was fed NR (n=8) or CON (n=8) from days 30 to 110 of gestation. Another group was fed CON (n=8), days 30 to 190; NR (n=7), days 30 to 110 followed by CON days 110 to 190; or CON, (n=7) days 30 to 110 followed by NR days 110 to 190. Cows were harvested at days 110 or 190 of gestation, when foetal measurements and samples were collected. Cows that were NR during days 30 to 110 or 110 to 190 of gestation lost significant BW and body condition score (P<0.001), this was associated with reduced plasma glucose during NR (P<0.002). Foetal weights, empty foetal weights, abdominal and thoracic circumferences were all reduced (P<0.03) in day 110 NR animals. Foetal perirenal adipose as a percentage of empty foetal weight was increased (P=0.01) in NR day 110 female foetuses compared with CON foetus. Maternal serum triglycerides at day 110 of gestation were decreased (P<0.05) in NR dams, whereas foetal serum triglycerides were increased (P<0.05) in response to maternal NR. Foetal weights tended to be reduced (P=0.08) in NR/CON and CON/NR v. CON/CON cattle at day 190 of gestation. Empty foetal weights, abdominal and thoracic circumferences were reduced (P⩽0.03) in NR/CON and CON/NR v. CON/CON cattle. Brain weight as a percentage of empty foetal weight was increased (P<0.001) in NR/CON and CON/NR v. CON/CON cattle. Foetal perirenal adipose as a percentage of empty foetal weight was increased (P=0.003) in NR/CON and CON/NR v. CON/CON cattle. Maternal serum triglycerides at day 190 of gestation were decreased (P<0.05) in association with maternal NR. Foetal serum triglycerides at day 190 of gestation were increased (P<0.05) in response to maternal NR during early gestation but decreased by NR in mid gestation compared with CON foetuses. The data show that maternal nutrient restriction during early or mid-gestation cause's asymmetrical foetal growth restriction, regardless if the restriction is preceded or followed by a period of non-restriction.

Maternal periconceptional and first trimester protein restriction in beef heifers: effects on placental parameters and fetal and neonatal calf development

“…Because males have higher growth and metabolism than females (Clarke and Mittwoch 1995), this may have altered sensitivity to the diet restriction. This finding is consistent with previous reports of sex-specific effects of dietary perturbation in early gestation on bovine fetal development (Micke et al 2015;Taylor et al 2018). In contrast, studies investigating perturbations occurring during the second trimester in the bovine (Miguel-Pacheco et al 2017) and in the second and third trimesters in humans (Clifton 2010) report that the female is more responsive.…”

“…Although the mechanisms behind this effect are not clear, the reported sex-specific differences in uterine artery flow, Doppler fetoplacental perfusion indices and response of these indices following the maternal dietary interventions in these heifers may have contributed to this finding . In addition, the sex-specific maternal endocrine adaptations to the maternal diet treatments (Copping et al 2020) may represent a placental signalling mechanism enabling changes in fetoplacental growth, as noted previously in humans (Hodyl et al 2010) and cattle (Micke et al 2015;Taylor et al 2018).…”

“…Because the growth trajectories for these tissues vary, each tissue is susceptible to maternal dietary perturbations at different gestational stages (McMillen et al 2001;Symonds et al 2012). Although maternal nutrition in mid to late pregnancy may affect fetal growth (Taylor et al 2018) and birthweight (Larson et al 2009;Micke et al 2010b;LeMaster et al 2017), nutritional insults during the first trimester have been reported to affect fetal and postnatal organ development (Long et al 2009(Long et al , 2010 and tissue gene expression (Long et al 2010;Micke et al 2011). Subsequent effects upon productivity include altered postnatal growth (Micke et al 2010a) and reproductive development (Sullivan et al 2009a;Mossa et al 2013).…”

Tingkat Insidensi Pemotongan Sapi Betina Bunting Di Rumah Potong Hewan Kota Ambon

“…Krog et al (2018) menyatakan penentuan umur fetus dapat diketahui secara fetometrik dari panjang badan, lebar kepala, panjang kerpala, dapat berbeda hasilnya menurut perbadaan jenis kelamin. Lebih lanjut Taylor et al (2017) mengatakan bahwa banyak faktor yang mempengaruhi berat dan panjang fetus yang dihasilkan seekor ternak induk, diantaranya adalah faktor nutrisi induk, kondisi suhu lingkungan, paritas, dan genotif induk. Misalnya, pembatasan nutrisi yang berlebihan bagi induk selama paruh waktu setengah hingga 2/3 akhir kebuntingan dapat mengurangi pertumbuhan dan perkembangan fetus.…”

Long-Term Effects of Maternal Subnutrition in Early Pregnancy on Cow-Calf Performance, Immunological and Physiological Profiles during the Next Lactation

“…Long et al [1] described no differences in calf birth weight in underfed dams during early gestation, whereas Micke et al [2] reported reduced calf birth weight in nutrient restricted heifers during the first two thirds of gestation. The peri-implantational period is a vulnerable phase, during which adverse programming mediated through poor maternal nutrition might begin [3,4,5]. Under adverse intrauterine conditions, the fetus could permanently modify some endocrine functions to ensure its survival [6].…”