Nutrient intake in the bovine during early and mid-gestation causes sex-specific changes in progeny plasma IGF-I, liveweight, height and carcass traits

• Published in: Animal reproduction science 2010-09, Vol.121 (3), p.208-217
• Main Authors: Micke, G.C., Sullivan, T.M., Gatford, K.L., Owens, J.A., Perry, V.E.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; beef cattle; birth weight; blood plasma; Body Size - physiology; Body Weight; calves; carcass weight; Cattle; Cattle - physiology; crude protein; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - blood; Female; females; fetal development; Fetal programming; gender differences; gestation period; Gestational Age; heifers; IGF; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 1 - blood; insulin-like growth factor binding proteins; insulin-like growth factor I; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - analysis; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II - analysis; Male; males; Maternal nutrition; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena - physiology; Metabolites; nutrient intake; postnatal development; Postnatal growth; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - veterinary; progeny; Sex Characteristics; traits; Urea - blood
• ISSN: 0378-4320; 1873-2232
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.05.017

Fetal and postnatal growth are mediated by insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (IGFBPs). Maternal nutrient intake during gestation can program the postnatal IGF-axis. This may have significant economic implications for beef cattle production. We investigated the effect of high ( H = 240%) and low ( L = 70%) levels of recommended daily crude protein (CP) intake for heifers during the first and second trimesters of gestation in a two-by-two factorial design on progeny ( n = 68) plasma IGF-I, IGF-II, total IGFBP (tIGFBP), postnatal growth and carcass traits. Calves were heavier at birth following high CP diets during the second trimester ( P = 0.03) and this persisted to 29 d. Plasma IGF-I concentrations of males were greater for HL compared to LL ( P < 0.01) and HH ( P > 0.04) from 29 to 657 d, and for LH compared to LL from 29 until 379 d ( P = 0.02). Exposure to low CP diets during the first trimester resulted in heavier males from 191 d onwards ( P = 0.04) but a tendency for lighter females from 552 d onwards ( P = 0.07) that had lighter carcass weights ( P = 0.04). Longissimus dorsi cross-sectional area of all carcasses was greater following exposure to low CP diets during the second trimester ( P = 0.04). Heifer nutrient intake during the first and second trimesters causes persistent and sex-specific programming of progeny plasma IGF-I, postnatal liveweight and carcass weight. Refining heifer nutritional programs during early gestation may optimize production objectives in progeny.