Session: Ruminant Nutrition II: Mineral and Vitamin Additives

302 - Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation and Rate of Gain in Beef Heifers: Effects on Fetal Trace Mineral Reserves at Day 83 of Gestation

Thursday, July 15, 2021

3:15 PM – 3:30 PM EST

Location: Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC), L005/009

Presenting Author(s)

Ana Clara B. Menezes, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
North Dakota State University
West Fargo, North Dakota

PDF Slides and Audio

Author(s)

kacie L. L. McCarthy

Assistant Professor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
CK

Cierrah Kassetas

United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Kansas City, Missouri
Friederike Baumgaertner

Graduate Research Assistant
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
JK

James D. Kirsch, Dr.

Bio/Immunoassay Lab Coordinator
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
SD

Sheri T. T. Dorsam

Molecular Biology Lab Coordinator
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
TN

Tammi L. L. Neville

Ruminant Nutrition Res. Specialist
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
AW

Alison K. K. Ward

Assistant Professor
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
PB

Pawel P. P. Borowicz

Research Assistant Professor
North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
LR

Lawrence P. P. Reynolds

North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
KS

Kevin K. K. Sedivec

North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
JF

J. Chris Forcherio

Purina Animal Nutrition
Gray Summit, Missouri
RS

Ronald Scott

Purina Animal Nutrition
Gray Summit, Missouri
JC

Joel Caton

North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota
CD

Carl R. Dahlen, PhD

Reproductive Physiologist, Associate Professor
Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University
Fargo, North Dakota

Thirty-five crossbred Angus heifers (body weight = 359.5 >± 7.1 kg) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial design to evaluate the effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation [VMSUP; supplemented (VTM) vs. unsupplemented (NoVTM)] and rate of gain [GAIN; low gain (LG), 0.28 kg/d vs. moderate gain (MG), 0.79 kg/d] during the first 83 d of gestation on trace mineral concentrations in fetal liver, muscle, and allantoic (ALF) and amniotic (AMF) fluids. The VTM treatment (113 g supplement•heifer^-1•d^-1) was initiated a minimum 71 d before breeding. At breeding, heifers were either maintained on the basal diet (LG) or received the MG diet by adding a protein/energy supplement to the basal diet. On d 83 of gestation, samples of fetal liver, muscle, ALF, and AMF were collected and analyzed for trace mineral concentrations. In fetal liver, Se, Cu, Mn, and Co concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.04) for VTM than NoVTM, while Mo and Co greater (P ≤ 0.04) for LG than MG. In fetal muscle, VTM increased (P ≤ 0.02) concentrations of Se and Zn, whereas LG increased (P < 0.01) Zn. In ALF, Mo concentrations were affected (P = 0.03) by a VMSUP × GAIN interaction, with VTM-MG greater than NoVTM-MG; while VTM increased (P < 0.01) concentrations of Se and Co. Trace mineral concentrations were not affected (P ≥ 0.13) in AMF. In conclusion, VTM increased fetal liver Se, Cu, Mn, and Co concentrations; fetal muscle Se and Zn; and ALF Se and Co; while LG increased fetal liver Mo and Co concentrations and fetal muscle Zn. Our results confirm that managerial decisions associated with vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of gain can alter fetal reserves of trace elements during early pregnancy.