Effects of supplementing calcium salts of polyunsaturated fatty acids to late-gestating beef cows on performance and physiological responses of the offspring1

Abstract

This experiment compared performance and physiological responses of the offspring from cows supplemented with Ca salts of PUFA or SFA + MUFA during late gestation. Ninety-six multiparous, nonlactating, pregnant Angus × Hereford cows were ranked by BW, BCS, and age and divided into 24 groups of 4 cows/group at the end of their second trimester of gestation (d -7). Cows conceived during the same estrus synchronization + AI protocol, with semen from a single sire; hence, gestation length was 195 d for all cows at the beginning of the experiment (d 0). Groups were randomly assigned to receive (DM basis) 405 g/cow daily of soybean meal in addition to 1) 190 g/cow daily of Ca salts of PUFA based on eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, and linoleic acids or 2) 190 g/cow daily of Ca salts of SFA + MUFA based on palmitic and oleic acids (CON). Groups were maintained in 2 pastures (6 groups of each treatment/pasture) and received daily 10.1 kg/cow (DM basis) of grass-alfalfa hay. Groups were segregated into 1 of 12 drylot pens (6 by 18 m) and individually offered treatments 3 times/wk from d 0 until calving. Cow BW and BCS were recorded, and blood samples were collected on d -7 of the experiment and also within 12 h after calving. Calf BW was also recorded within 12 h of calving. Calves were weaned on d 280 of the experiment, preconditioned for 45 d (d 280 to 325), transferred to a growing lot on d 325, and moved to a finishing lot on d 445, where they remained until slaughter. At calving, PUFA-supplemented cows had a greater ( < 0.01) proportion (as % of total plasma fatty acids) of PUFA, including linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, docosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids. At weaning, calves from CON-supplemented cows were older ( = 0.03), although no treatment differences were detected ( = 0.82) for calf weaning BW. During both growing and finishing phases, ADG was greater ( ≤ 0.06) in calves from PUFA-supplemented cows. Upon slaughter, HCW and marbling were also greater ( ≤ 0.05) in calves from PUFA-supplemented cows. Collectively, these results indicate that supplementing eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, and linoleic acids to late-gestating beef cows stimulated programming effects on postnatal offspring growth and carcass quality. Therefore, supplementing late-gestating beef cows with Ca salts of PUFA appears to optimize offspring productivity in beef production systems.

Prepartum fatty acid supplementation in sheep. III. Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid during finishing on performance, hypothalamus gene expression, and muscle fatty acids composition in lambs1

“…However, as hypothesized, lambs born from PFA dams were heavier compared to lambs born from C dams (P < 0.01) at the end of the experiment (Table 4). Something similar was observed in beef cattle where calves born from cows supplemented with 190 g/d (0.032 % BW) of a mixture of PUFA (Ca salts of linolenic, linolenic, DHA and EPA); tended to have a greater ADG, and were heavier in the finishing period compared with calves born from cows fed similar amount of a mixed of saturated and monounsaturated FS (Marques et al, 2017). Santos et al (2015) described that dairy calves born from PUFA supplemented cows had increased DMI during the first 60 days of life, and those results resulted in a higher ADG.…”

“…There was no DS effects or DS x LS interactions on carcass characteristics (P > 0.1). Marques et al (2017) observed differences in HCW on steers born from cows supplemented during the last trimester of gestation with PUFA vs. control. They showed that steers born from control cows (fed saturated and monounsaturated FA) had a lighter HCW and smaller Longissimus dorsi muscle area than steers born from PUFA cows.…”

“…Based on previous studies in beef (Marques et al, 2017) and dairy (Santos et al, 2013) cattle, our hypothesis was that the increase in performance (BW) in the offspring was associated with an increase in DMI. The increase in DMI is associated to a relative increase in the hypothalamus orexigenic pathway in relationship with the anorexigenic pathway.…”

“…In sheep, differences in the primary feed source of maternal winterfeeding diets during mid to late gestation alter offspring carcass composition in fat and muscle deposition (Radunz et al, 2011a;Radunz et al, 2011b). Supplementing beef cattle (Marques et al, 2017) with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) during the last third of gestation improved offspring body weight. However, the mechanisms behind the improvement in performance have not been elucidated.…”

Effect of supplementation fat during the last 3 weeks of uterine life and the preweaning period on performance, ruminal fermentation, blood metabolites, passive immunity and health of the newborn calf

“…fat supplementation) on post-birth calf metabolism cannot be ruled out. Indeed, others have also reported this potential mechanism with strategic feeding of FA during uterine life in dairy (37,38) and beef cattle (39,40) .…”