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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 21(6)

Dietary manipulation of Bos indicus × heifers during gestation affects the reproductive development of their heifer calves

T. M. Sullivan A , G. C. Micke A , R. M. Greer A , H. F. Irving-Rodgers B , R. J. Rodgers B and V. E. A. Perry A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.

B Research Centre for Reproductive Health, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: v.perry@uq.edu.au

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 21(6) 773-784 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD09004
Submitted: 5 January 2009  Accepted: 13 April 2009   Published: 1 July 2009

Abstract

The effect of nutrition during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy in composite beef heifers on reproductive parameters of their female calves was determined in the present study. At artificial insemination, heifers were assigned to one of four treatment groups (i.e. HH, HL, LowH and LL) depending on the level of crude protein intake (H = high; L = low) for first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Gonadotrophin concentrations and ovarian parameters were measured in their female calves at 5 and 23 months of age. Crude protein intake was positively associated with dam plasma urea (P < 0.001). The density of healthy follicles in heifers at the time of death was negatively correlated with dam plasma urea at Day 179 (P = 0.009). Heifers from LowH dams had a smaller-sized prepubertal largest ovarian follicle (P = 0.03) and lower densities of primordial and primary follicles (P = 0.02) and healthy antral follicles (P = 0.009) when they were killed. There was a positive correlation between plasma FSH concentrations at 5 and 23 months of age (P = 0.02), as well as between the sizes of the largest ovarian follicles at 6 and 23 months of age (P = 0.01). In conclusion, the reproductive development of heifers may be affected by prenatal nutrition during early and mid-gestation.

Additional keywords: gonadotrophins, ovary, prenatal nutrition.


Acknowledgements

This research was generously funded by Meat and Livestock Australia, Australian Agricultural Co. and WA Cattle Industry Compensation Fund, with the support of Ridley AgriProducts, Milne AgriGroup and Network in Genes and Environment in Development (NGED). The authors thank Susan Cook (Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Canada), Dr Kathy Gatford (Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical School, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia), Associate Professor Jim McFarlane (University of New England, NSW, Australia) and Professor Graeme Martin (University of Western Australia Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, WA, Australia) for technical assistance. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work.


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