z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
Maternal supplementation of energy and protein, but not methionine hydroxy analog, enhanced postnatal growth and response to vaccination in Bos indicus-influenced beef offspring
Author(s) -
Philipe Moriel,
Marcelo Vedovatto,
Elizabeth Palmer,
Rhaiza A Oliveira,
Hiran Marcelo Silva,
Juliana Ranches,
J. M. B. Vendramini
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of animal science/journal of animal science ... and asas reference compendium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.928
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1525-3015
pISSN - 0021-8812
DOI - 10.1093/jas/skaa123
Subject(s) - zoology , weaning , biology , methionine , crossbreed , paspalum notatum , pasture , beef cattle , urea , ice calving , offspring , pregnancy , lactation , agronomy , biochemistry , genetics , amino acid
A 2-yr study evaluated the growth and postvaccination immune response of beef calves born from heifers offered no supplementation or pre- and postpartum supplementation of sugarcane molasses + urea with or without methionine hydroxy analog (MHA). On day 0 of each year (57 ± 5 d prepartum), Brangus crossbred beef heifers (n = 36/yr; 20 to 22 mo of age) were stratified by their initial body weight (BW; 396 ± 24.1 kg) and body condition score (BCS; 5.6 ± 0.43) and randomly allocated into 1 of 12 bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures (3 heifers/pasture). Treatments were randomly assigned to pastures (4 pastures/treatment/yr) and consisted of no supplementation (NOSUP) and supplementation of sugarcane molasses + urea (7.2 kg of DM/heifer/wk) with (MOL+) or without (MOL-) fortification with 105 g/heifer/wk of MHA. Treatments were provided from 57 ± 5 d prepartum until 17 ± 5 d postpartum (day 0 to 74). On day 74, all heifer-calf pairs were combined and managed as a single group until the end of the breeding season (day 237). Calves were early weaned at 89 ± 5 d of age (day 147), limit-fed at 3.5% of BW (DM basis) in drylot until day 201, and vaccinated against respiratory disease pathogens on days 160 and 188. Prepartum BCS on day 44 did not differ (P = 0.26) between MOL+ and MOL- heifers but both groups had greater (P < 0.0001) BCS than NOSUP heifers. Plasma concentrations of l-methionine on day 44 were the greatest (P ≤ 0.04) for MOL+ heifers and did not differ (P = 0.40) between NOSUP vs. MOL- heifers. Calf birth BW did not differ (P = 0.13) among treatments. Calf average daily gain (ADG) from birth to day 201 did not differ (P ≥ 0.17) between MOL+ vs. MOL- calves, but both groups had greater (P ≤ 0.05) ADG from birth to day 201 than NOSUP calves. Calf postvaccination plasma concentrations of glucose, cortisol, and haptoglobin did not differ among treatments (P ≥ 0.13). However, plasma concentrations of IGF-1 on day 167 and the overall positive vaccine seroconversion did not differ (P ≥ 0.18) between MOL- and MOL+ calves, but both were greater (P ≤ 0.04) compared with NOSUP calves. Hence, maternal supplementation of sugarcane molasses + urea increased BCS at calving and offspring BW gain and response to vaccination against respiratory pathogens compared with no maternal supplementation. MHA inclusion into maternal supplements effectively increased maternal plasma l-methionine concentrations but did not enhance maternal BCS at calving and offspring growth and postvaccination immune response.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here