Maternal supplementation of energy and protein, but not methionine hydroxy analog, enhanced postnatal growth and response to vaccination in Bos indicus-influenced beef offspring. (20th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moriel, Philipe; Vedovatto, Marcelo; Palmer, Elizabeth A; Oliveira, Rhaiza A; Silva, Hiran Marcelo; Ranches, Juliana; Vendramini, Joao M B
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal science. Volume 98:Number 5(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04-20
• Subjects: beef heifers -- Bos indicus -- methionine -- offspring -- prepartum -- supplementation; Livestock -- Periodicals; Livestock; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa123
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8812

Abstract

Abstract: 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.