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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #399670
Research Project: Optimizing Nutrient Management and Efficiency of Beef Cattle and Swine

Location: Nutrition, Growth and Physiology

Title: Effects of differing planes of nutrition and one-carbon metabolite supplementation of beef heifers on B12, folate, and folate intermediate concentrations in the dam and fetus

Author
item SYRING, JESSICA - North Dakota State University
item Crouse, Matthew
item ENTZIE, YSSI - North Dakota State University
item KING, LAYLA - North Dakota State University
item HIRCHERT, MARA - North Dakota State University
item WARD, ALISON - North Dakota State University
item Lee, Robert - Bob
item REYNOLDS, LAWRENCE - North Dakota State University
item BOROWICZ, PAWEL - North Dakota State University
item DAHLEN, CARL - North Dakota State University
item CATON, JOEL - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science Supplement
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/7/2022
Publication Date: 10/28/2023
Citation: Syring, J., Crouse, M.S., Entzie, Y., King, L., Hirchert, M., Ward, A.K., Lee, R., Reynolds, L.P., Borowicz, P.P., Dahlen, C.R., Caton, J.S. 2023. Effects of differing planes of nutrition and one-carbon metabolite supplementation of beef heifers on B12, folate, and folate intermediate concentrations in the dam and fetus. Journal of Animal Science. 101(Supplement 2):205-206. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad341.228.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skad341.228

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Vitamin B12 and folate are involved in the metabolic process known as one-carbon metabolism, which among other things, has a role in DNA, RNA, and protein methylation. This methylation connects one-carbon metabolism to epigenetics, which influences fetal development. Thus, an adequate supply of one-carbon metabolites (OCM) is important during fetal development. We hypothesized that differing planes of nutrition, along with supplementation of OCM, would impact concentrations of B12, folate, and folate intermediates in maternal liver, maternal serum, fetal liver, allantoic fluid (ALF), and amniotic fluid (AMF). Specifically, OCM supplementation would increase circulating and hepatic B12 and folate concentrations compared with non-supplemented heifers. Heifers (n = 72) were individually fed on one of two planes of nutrition: control (CON; 0.45 kg/d gain) or restricted (RES; -0.23 kg/d gain). To complete the 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, heifers were also given either OCM supplementation (10 g/d rumen-protected methionine + 60 g/d rumen-protected choline in the diet plus 20 mg B12 + 320 mg folic acid; weekly intramuscular injections) or no supplementation (grain carrier + saline injection). Thus, the final treatments were CON-OCM, CON+OCM, RES-OCM, and RES+OCM. Heifers were bred to a single sire via artificial insemination with sexed semen. Heifers pregnant with female calves (n = 31) were selected for slaughter on d 63. Samples of maternal liver, ALF, AMF, and fetal liver were collected at slaughter. Maternal serum was collected at breeding (d 0) and at slaughter. For B12 and folate concentration analysis, maternal serum was sent to IDEXX BioAnalytics (N. Grafton, MA). For analysis of folate intermediate concentrations in maternal and fetal liver, ALF, and AMF, samples were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. There were treatment × day interactions (P /= 0.06) were found in fetal liver, ALF, or AMF; however, 5-methyl THF in ALF tended (P = 0.06) to be greater in R+OCM compared with all other treatments (Table 2). No interactions were found for concentrations in maternal liver when corrected for total liver weight; however, there was a supplement effect (P