Effects of supplementing one-carbon metabolites to first time heifers receiving adequate or restricted feed intake during early gestation

Authors: ENTZIE, Y - North Dakota State University; KING, L - North Dakota State University; SYRING, J - North Dakota State University; HIRCHERT, M - North Dakota State University; CATON, J - North Dakota State University; Crouse, Matthew; DAHLEN, C - North Dakota State University; WARD, A - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: State University Ag Report
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2022
Publication Date: 10/8/2022
Citation: Entzie, Y.L., King, L.E., Syring, J.G., Hirchert, M., Caton, J.S., Crouse, M.S., Dahlen, C.R., Ward, A.K. 2022. Effects of supplementing one-carbon metabolites to first time heifers receiving adequate or restricted feed intake during early gestation. 2022 North Dakota Livestock Research Report. 56-59. Available: https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/2022-north-dakota-livestock-research-report

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Our objective was to evaluate the effect of plane of nutrition and supplementation of one-carbon metabolites (OCM) on maternal hematology, serum glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and insulin, as well as fetal fluid glucose concentration in cows receiving adequate or restricted feed intake during the first 63 days of gestation. Cross-bred Angus heifers were estrous synchronized using a 7-day CO-Synch + CIDR estrus synchronization protocol and artificially inseminated with female-sexed semen from a single sire. At breeding, heifers were assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with n=8 heifers per treatment. The first factor was plane of nutrition with control (CON) feed intake adjusted to target 0.45 kg/day average daily gain, versus restricted (RES) with intake adjusted to target -0.23 kg/day gain. The second factor was OCM supplementation (+OCM; choline, methionine, folate, and vitamin B12) or no supplementation (-OCM). Blood samples were collected on day 0, 35 and 63 of gestation and fetal fluids were collected on day 63. Red blood cell count, packed cell volume and hematocrit were greater in RES than CON, indicating that red blood cell production was increased in response to feed restriction. There was no effect of treatment on serum insulin or IGF-1 concentrations. Serum glucose was greater in CON than RES (3.44 vs 3.21 ± 0.07 mM; P = 0.03). Additionally, serum NEFA concentrations increased and BUN concentrations decreased overtime in CON, but no change was observed in RES. This reflects the adequate versus inadequate energy and protein content of the diets. Amniotic fluid fructose concentration was greater in CON-OCM than CON+OCM and RES-OCM, with RES+OCM intermediate, and allantoic fluid glucose concentration tended to be greater for CON-OCM than CON+OCM. This suggests that OCM supplementation may increase fetal energy supply during nutrient restriction. In conclusion, supplementation with OCM could improve fetal nutrient supply during times of maternal feed restriction which is likely not a result of increased maternal hematopoiesis.