Pre-transit vitamin C injection improves post-transit performance of beef steers

Abstract

Although cattle can synthesize vitamin C (VC) endogenously, stress may increase VC requirements above the biosynthetic threshold and warrant supplementation. This study investigated the effects of a VC injection delivered before or after a long-distance transit event on blood parameters and feedlot performance of beef steers. Fifty-two days prior to trial initiation, 90 newly weaned, Angus-based steers from a single source were transported to Ames, IA, USA. On day 0, 72 steers (356 ± 17 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to intramuscular injection treatments (24 steers/treatment): saline injection pre- and post-transit (CON), VC (Vet One, Boise, ID, USA; 5 g sodium ascorbate/steer) injection pre-transit and saline injection post-transit (PRE) or saline injection pre-transit and VC injection post-transit (POST). Following pre-transit treatment injections, steers were transported on a commercial livestock trailer for approximately 18 h (1675 km). Post-transit (day 1), steers were sorted into pens with one GrowSafe bunk/pen (4 pens/treatment; 6 steers/pen). Steers were weighed on day 0, 1, 7, 30, 31, 56 and 57. Blood was collected from 3 steers/pen on day 0, 1, 2 and 7; liver biopsies were performed on the same 3 steers/pen on day 2. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design (experimental unit = steer; fixed effects = treatment and block) and blood parameters were analyzed as repeated measures. A pre-transit VC injection improved steer average daily gain from day 7 to 31 (P = 0.05) and overall (day 1 to 57; P = 0.02), resulting in greater BW for PRE-steers on day 30/31 (P = 0.03) and a tendency for greater final BW (day 56/57; P = 0.07). Steers that received VC pre- or post-transit had greater DM intake from day 31 to 57 (P = 0.01) and overall (P = 0.02) v. CON-steers. Plasma ascorbate concentrations were greatest for PRE-steers on day 1 and POST-steers on day 2 (treatment × day; P < 0.01). No interaction or treatment effects were observed for other blood parameters (P ≥ 0.21). Plasma ferric-reducing antioxidant potential and malondialdehyde concentrations decreased post-transit (day; P < 0.01), while serum non-esterified fatty acids and haptoglobin concentrations increased post-transit (day; P < 0.01). In general, blood parameters returned to pre-transit values by day 7. Pre-transit administration of injectable VC to beef steers mitigated the decline in plasma ascorbate concentrations and resulted in superior feedlot performance compared to post-transit administration.

The effect of injectable vitamin C and road transit duration on inflammation, muscle fatigue, and performance in pre-conditioned beef steer calves

“…Vitamin C protects against cellular damage induced by free radicals, and VC aids in regeneration of the fat-soluble antioxidant, vitamin E ( Packer et al, 1979 ). Deters and Hansen (2020) found steers given injectable VC prior to an 18-h transit event had greater ADG and a 7 kg BW advantage 56-d post-transit compared to steers given saline. This study was among the first to examine the effects of injectable VC and transit duration on inflammation and muscle fatigue in beef cattle, along with growth performance in the feedlot.…”

“…Antioxidant properties of vitamin C (VC) have been shown to improve performance following a transportation event. Deters and Hansen (2020) found an injection of VC prior to transit resulted in a ~7 kg advantage in body weight 56-d post-transit compared to steers not receiving a VC injection. This reveals injectable VC as a cost-effective strategy to add value to cattle with a simple addition to the management protocol, yet the mechanisms by which injectable VC affects growth need to be further investigated.…”

“…Long-duration transit can result in oxidative stress from an imbalanced redox status when the production of oxidants exceeds that of antioxidants ( Finkel and Holbrook, 2000 ; Chirase et al, 2004 ). Transportation has been shown to decrease the status of certain antioxidants, such as decreased plasma VC and vitamin E ( Chirase et al, 2004 ; Deters and Hansen, 2020 ). Consequently, the reduction of antioxidants can impair immune system activation and the body’s ability to mount a defense against infections ( Hughes, 1999 ; Marques et al, 2012 ).…”

Transcriptome Characterization of Short Distance Transport Stress in Beef Cattle Blood

“…Beef cattle transportation is an inseparable part of the modern beef cattle industry, and since 2 decades, both transnational and cross-regional transportation were increased significantly. The neglect of beef cattle transportation stress by producers renders it difficult to accurately estimate the beef cattle industry ( Deters and Hansen, 2020 ). It has been estimated that the death rate due to beef cattle transportation is in the range of 1–14%.…”

Small RNA-Seq Analysis Reveals miRNA Expression of Short Distance Transportation Stress in Beef Cattle Blood

“…Compared with the transportation stress process of other livestock, beef cattle are paid more attention because of the particularity of their digestive system, especially the rumen digestive function. Transportation stress has brought huge economic losses to the beef cattle industry, which could be divided into long-distance transportation stress and short-distance transportation stress [2,3]. On the one hand, long-distance transportation stress has attracted more attention from beef production practitioners, because it can slow down the growth rate and even cause death of beef cattle [4,5].…”