Effect of prepartum dietary energy density on beef cow energy metabolites, and birth weight and antioxidative capabilities of neonatal calves

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of prepartum diets that differ in energy density on beef cow energy metabolites and birth weight, immunity and antioxidative capabilities of neonatal calves. On d 0 (approximately 45 d before calving), 90 multiparous Angus cows (BW = 510 ± 16 kg) were randomly allocated into 1 of 9 drylot pens (10 cows/pen). Each pen was randomly assigned to a treatment condition (three pens/treatment), the cows in each treatment were assigned randomly to receive a high-energy (HE) density diet (NEm = 1.67 Mcal/kg of DM), medium-energy (ME) density diet (NEm = 1.53 Mcal/kg of DM), or low-energy (LE) density diet (NEm = 1.36 Mcal/kg of DM). Blood samples were collected − 45, − 21, − 14, and − 7 d from calving, and plasma concentrations of cortisol, glucose, total protein, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) were measured. After calving, the birth weights, body height, body length, thoracic girth and umbilical girth of the calves in each group were recorded, and blood samples were collected for analysis of IgG, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and maleic dialdehyde levels. The amounts of feed offered and orts were recorded for individual cows 4 d/wk. The results indicated that although dry matter intake (DMI) levels did not differ among the LE, ME, and or HE groups before parturition, the group that received the HE diet had higher plasma glucose concentrations and lower prepartum blood NEFA concentrations than the other groups. Birth weight, body height, thoracic girth, and levels of IL-2, cortisol, total antioxidant capacity, and superoxide dismutase were increased in calves of the HE group compared with those of the LE group. The plasma IL-4 and serum IgG concentrations tended to be decreased in the ME group compared with the HE group, and the ME group had lower maleic dialdehyde concentrations; maleic dialdehyde levels were significantly increased in the LE group compared with the HE group. Overall, these results indicate that feeding of a low-energy diet during the last 45 d before parturition has negative effects on the growth, immunity, and antioxidative capabilities of neonatal calves. Increasing maternal energy density during late gestation may be useful to improve the energy status of cows.

High energy diet of beef cows during gestation promoted growth performance of calves by improving placental nutrients transport

“…In the current study, higher dietary energy density of beef cows increased the birth weight of calves, suggesting that the fetus could obtain more nutrients from the cows, which was conducive to promoting growth. A recent study reported that calves born to cows fed the high energy ration during gestation were significantly heavier than those born to cows fed low energy ration at birth (28), which were in accordance with our results.…”

“…Maternal energy level affected the antioxidant ability of neonatal calves. A previous study found that higher maternal dietary energy could enhance the activity of serum GSH-Px, SOD and T-AOC in neonatal calves ( 28 ). However, in our study, the serum GSH-Px and T-AOC activities of neonatal calves in HE group were lower than LE group.…”

Multi-omics revealed the effects of dietary energy levels on the rumen microbiota and metabolites in yaks under house-feeding conditions

“…In the figure, the different colors represent the differential metabolites in different comparison groups, the overlapping part represents the number of metabolites common to multiple metabolic sets, and the bar graph represents the number of metabolites included in each metabolic set. (Chen et al, 2022). The study showed that yaks in the MG group had faster monthly growth compared to the LG group, as energy levels increased, yaks in the HG group gained more weight, with a higher average daily gain than the other two groups.…”

“…Consequently, there is a pressing need for a change in feeding patterns to promote animal husbandry in the QTP ( Long et al, 1999 ; Xue et al, 2005 ). Prior research indicates that pre-partum heifers body weight and performance can be enhanced by varying their dietary energy levels ( Chen et al, 2022 ). The study showed that yaks in the MG group had faster monthly growth compared to the LG group, as energy levels increased, yaks in the HG group gained more weight, with a higher average daily gain than the other two groups.…”

Effects of dietary energy level on antioxidant capability, immune function and rectal microbiota in late gestation donkeys

“…The results indicate that the energy supplied from the M and L diets plus the body fat mobilization in the jennets could meet the energy demand for fetal growth, even at the lower level of dietary energy supplied in the present study. Studies in beef cattle have shown the importance of pre-partum dietary energy levels for neonatal calves on calf birth weight ( Chen et al, 2022 ) with only severe maternal energy deficiency impairing the birth weight of the offspring. This was not the case in this donkey study.…”