Mineral supplementation to gestating beef heifers
What are the effects on offspring productivity?
By Ana Clara B. Menezes
Co-authors: Jennifer L. Hurlbert, Wellison J. S. Diniz, Kacie, L. McCarthy, Kendall C. Swanson, Lawrence P. Reynolds, Kevin, K. Sedivec, Joel S. Caton and Carl R. Dahlen
Minerals play key roles in several metabolic and physiological functions. These micronutrients are transferred from the dam to the fetus during gestation to be partitioned for metabolic use and stored as postnatal mineral reserves. Thus, an inadequate supply of these critical nutrients during gestation can have long-lasting effects on offspring growth and health. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate the effects of mineral supplementation during gestation on calf performance (i.e., average daily gain, weight at weaning), as this can directly impact producers’ profitability. Our research group has developed research models examining the impact of maternal mineral supplementation (VTM, supplemented vs. NoVTM, not supplemented) during the pre-breeding and early pregnancy period (Experiment 1) or throughout gestation (Experiment 2) in beef heifers.
In experiment 1, thirty-five crossbred Angus heifers (11 to 12 mo of age; body weight = 792.6 ± 15.7 lbs.) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with main effects of VTM supplement (VTM or NoVTM) and rate of gain (GAIN; low gain [LG], 0.62 lbs./d, vs. moderate gain [MG], 1.74 lbs./d). The VTM supplement used was a loose product (4 oz/heifer/d of Purina Wind & Rain Storm All-Season 7.5 Complete, Land O’ Lakes, Inc., Arden Hills, MN) that was initiated at least 71 days before artificial insemination. At breeding, heifers were maintained on their respective diets (target gain of 0.62 lbs./d) or fed a starch-based protein/energy supplement (target gain of 1.74 lbs./d). Heifers were ovariohysterectomized on day 83 of gestation, and the gravid uterus was collected. Samples of placenta and fetal fluids were collected, and fetuses were dissected.
A differential gene expression analysis of placental tissues revealed that several biological pathways were affected by VTM supplementation. Notably, genes related to nutrient transport and biosynthesis of amino acids were more expressed in the VTM-supplemented group. These changes affected the transport of minerals to the fetus, resulting in greater concentrations of trace minerals in the fetal liver, muscle, and allantoic fluids. Additionally, we reported increased concentrations of histidine, aspartate, and 12 out of 14 neutral amino acids (AA) in the allantoic fluid of VTM-supplemented dams. In fetal tissues, VTM resulted in the upregulation of genes related to mineral metabolism and AA in the liver, tissue growth and development in the muscle, and energy metabolism in the brain. Mitochondrial energy metabolism was also affected by our treatments, with a greater abundance of metabolites in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway in the liver of fetuses from VTM than from NoVTM dams. Further high-resolution respirometry analysis revealed greater energy utilization efficiency in small intestinal samples of newborn calves from VTM dams. This may indicate greater efficiency of nutrient absorption and utilization, which can positively impact performance and body weight gain.
In experiment 2, crossbred Angus heifers (n = 31; 14 to 15 mo of age; body weight = 603 ± 2.4 lbs.) were bred via artificial insemination using female-sexed semen from a single sire and were randomly assigned to either receive a basal diet (n = 14; CON) or a basal diet plus the addition of a mineral supplement (n = 17; VTM). The VTM supplement was the same product used in Experiment 1. Heifers received the treatments throughout gestation and were managed under a common diet after calving. Calves from supplemented dams were 36.4 lbs. heavier from birth to breeding than CON offspring, suggesting that maternal nutrition affects physiological mechanisms in utero that modulate offspring energetics and efficiency of nutrient utilization in the postnatal period. Further, VTM heifers produced approximately 0.26 lbs. more colostrum, which had a greater concentration of minerals, than CON heifers.
Altogether, our findings show that mineral nutrition during gestation can affect offspring productivity into the weaning/backgrounding period in beef cattle. The findings suggest that providing supplemental minerals to pregnant beef heifers is crucial for optimizing offspring performance, maintaining animal health, and ensuring profitability in beef operations.
Acknowledgments: Faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students of the Department of Animal Sciences, Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, North Dakota State University (Fargo, ND); Department of Animal Sciences, South Dakota State University (Brookings, SD); Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University (Auburn, AL); Department of Animal Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln (Lincoln, NE); Central Grasslands Research Extension Center, North Dakota State University (Streeter, ND). The authors would like to thank J. Chris Forcherio and Ronald Scott [Purina Animal Nutrition LLC (Land O’Lakes, Inc., Arden Hills, MN, USA)] for their contribution to this work.
References
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Menezes, A.C.B.; McCarthy, K.L.; Kassetas, C.J.; Baumgaertner, F.; Kirsch, J.D.; Dorsam, S.T.; Neville, T.L.; Ward, A.K.; Borowicz, P.P.; Reynolds, L.P.; et al. Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Rate of Gain in Beef Heifers I: Effects on Dam Hormonal and Metabolic Status, Fetal Tissue and Organ Mass, and Concentration of Glucose and Fructose in Fetal Fluids at d 83 of Gestation. Animals 2022, 12, 1757.
Menezes, A.C.B.; Baumgaertner, F.; Hurlbert, J.L.; Bochantin, K.A.; Kirsch, J.D.; Dorsam, S.; Sedivec, K.K.; Swanson, K.C.; Dahlen, C.R. Feeding a Se-Containing Trace Mineral Supplement during Pregnancy: Effects on Mitochondrial Oxygen Consumption in Liver and Small Intestine of Neonatal Calves. In Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Selenium in Biology and Medicine, Honolulu, HI, USA, 16–20 February 2022.
Menezes is an assistant professor of ruminant nutrition in the Department of Animal Science at South Dakota State University. Photo credits: Kacie McCarthy and Jennifer Hurlbert.
