PSI-14 - Effects of maternal nutrient restriction during late gestation on neonatal beef calf serum chemistry and complete blood cell count

To determine effects of late gestational nutrient restriction (NR) on neonatal blood chemistry and hematology, primiparous fall-calving crossbred beef heifers [BW: 451 ± 28 (SD) kg; BCS: 5.4 ± 0.7] were individually-fed either 100% (control; CON; n = 12) or 70% (n = 13) of NASEM net energy and metabolizable protein requirements for maintenance, pregnancy, and growth from d 160 of gestation to parturition. Calf jugular blood was obtained at 0 (pre-suckling), 6, 12, 24, and 48 h postnatally to determine serum chemistry and complete blood cell count. Data were analyzed with fixed effects of treatment, hour, and their interaction, using repeated measures. Calving date was a fixed effect; calf sex was included when P < 0.25. The treatment x hour interaction (P < 0.10) affected total protein, globulin, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, creatine kinase, red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, sodium, anion gap, and potassium. Total protein and globulin at 6 to 48 h were greater (P ≤ 0.02) in NR calves. Calves from NR heifers had greater (P < 0.08) GGT at 6, 12, and 48 h and greater (P ≤ 0.07) AST at 0 to 24 h. Creatinine at 24 h and creatine kinase at 6 to 24 h were greater (P < 0.04) in NR calves. Hematocrit from 6 to 24 h and RBC and hemoglobin at 6 and 12 h were greater (P ≤ 0.09) in CON calves. Sodium from 0 to 48 h and anion gap at 6 h were greater (P < 0.09) in CON calves. Calves from NR heifers had greater (P = 0.03) 0 h potassium. Treatment affected chloride, which was greater (P = 0.08) in CON calves. These data indicate calves born to nutrient restricted heifers may experience more trauma at calving but have improved passive transfer.