Late gestation supplementation of corn dried distiller’s grains plus solubles to beef cows fed a low-quality forage: III. effects on mammary gland blood flow, colostrum and milk production, and calf body weights

Abstract

Objectives were to investigate the effects of supplementation with corn dried distiller’s grains plus solubles (DDGS) to late gestating beef cows on arterial blood flow to the mammary glands during late gestation and early lactation; colostrum and milk production; dystocia and immunity; and calf BW. Cows were fed a control (CON; n = 15; 5.1% CP; 36.2% ADF) diet consisting of 90% corn stover and 10% corn silage on a dry basis offered ad libitum or CON diet with supplementation of DDGS (0.30% of BW; SUP n = 12). Mammary gland blood flow was assessed on day 245 of gestation. At parturition, maternal and calving parameters were assessed; colostrum and jugular blood was sampled; and dams were weighed. Mammary gland blood flow and milk production was measured on day 44 of lactation. Calves were weighed fortnightly for 8 wk and at weaning. Colostrum production tended to be greater in SUP dams than in CON dams (837 vs. 614 ± 95 g, P = 0.10). Calves of SUP dams were heavier at birth and 24 h (0 h, 43.2 vs. 39.8 ± 1.0 kg, P = 0.02; 24 h, 44.0 vs. 40.4 ± 1.1 kg, P = 0.02). At birth and 24 h, blood pCO2 was greater in calves born to SUP dams (6.82 vs. 6.00 ± 0.41 kPa, P = 0.04). Serum IgG did not differ (P = 0.21) at 24 h. Ipsilateral mammary gland blood flow of SUP cows was greater than CON cows (2.76 vs. 1.76 ± 0.30 L/min; P = 0.03); however, when summed with contralateral, total blood flow was similar (P = 0.33). Hemodynamic measures on day 44 of lactation were similar (P ≥ 0.32). Milk production tended to be increased (13.5 vs. 10.2 ± 1.2 kg/d, P = 0.07) in SUP vs. CON cows. Despite similar BW through 56 d, calves from SUP cows were heavier (P = 0.04) at weaning (309.7 vs. 292.0 ± 6.0 kg). In conclusion, we accept our hypothesis that DDGS supplementation during gestation influenced mammary blood flow, milk production and calf weights. These findings implicate maternal nutrition’s leverage on both nutrient and passive immunity delivery to the calf early in life as well as potential advantages on long-term performance.

Frequency of maternal supplementation of energy and protein during late gestation modulates preweaning growth of their beef offspring

“…Calf intake of IgG from colostrum and serum concentrations of IgG are positively correlated ( Hopkins and Quigley, 1997 ). Maternal prepartum supplementation of protein and energy did not impact the concentration of IgG in the colostrum ( Kennedy et al, 2019 ) and IgG concentration in plasma or serum of the offspring ( Bohnert et al, 2013 ; Kennedy et al, 2019 ; Moriel et al, 2020b ; Palmer et al, 2022a ). Likewise, frequency of protein and energy supplementation did not affect circulating concentrations of IgG in the offspring ( Klein et al, 2014 ; Moriel et al, 2016a ).…”

“…Prepartum supplementation of protein and energy supplementation increased prepartum BCS of beef cows ( Winterholler et al, 2012 ; Bohnert et al, 2013 ; Kennedy et al, 2019 ; Moriel et al, 2020b ; Palmer et al, 2020 , 2022a , b ; Vedovatto et al, 2022 ), did not impact the percentage of pregnant beef cows in the subsequent breeding season ( Stalker et al, 2007 ; Larson et al, 2009 ; Bohnert et al, 2013 ) but resulted in earlier calving compared to no prepartum supplementation of protein and energy ( Palmer et al, 2020 ). Likewise, prepartum supplementation of DDG at 77 kg/cow from day 0 to 77, regardless of supplementation frequency, was sufficient to prevent or minimize prepartum BCS loss, leading to greater BCS during the first 30 d of the breeding season compared to NOSUP cows.…”

Effects of replacement of corn silage and distillers' grain diets with hay during prepartum on the health and production performance of dairy heifers postpartum

“…Distillers' grains are often used as feed ingredients for dairy cows as they have low costs and high protein and amino acid concentrations. It has been shown that the addition of distillers' grains to diets during late pregnancy can substantially increase calf birthweight and that this effect may be related to a considerable increase in uterine horn blood flow velocity and pulsatility index (Kennedy et al, 2019). Increased uterine horn blood flow during pregnancy will increase the foetal absorption of nutrients from the dam.…”

Ante-Natal and Post-Natal Influences on Neonatal Immunity, Growth and Puberty of Calves—A Review

“…Furthermore, calves born to cows fed balanced diet, but fed colostrum from dams fed restricted diets have less serum IgG concentrations at 24 h of life than the calves receiving colostrum from well-nourished cows [ 28 ]. Nutrient-restricted cattle have decreased colostrum tri-iodothyronine concentration which plays an important role on IgG absorption at calf intestinal level [ 29 , 30 ].…”