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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 #419938
Research Project: Optimizing Nutrient Management and Efficiency of Beef Cattle and Swine

Location: Nutrition, Growth and Physiology

Title: Review: Micronutrient supply, developmental programming, and strategic supplementation in ruminant livestock

Author
item CATON, J - North Dakota State University
item Crouse, Matthew
item DAHLEN, C - North Dakota State University
item WARD, A - University Of Saskatchewan
item DINIZ, W - Auburn University
item HAMMER, C - North Dakota State University
item SWANSON, R - North Dakota State University
item HAUXWELL, K - North Dakota State University
item REYNOLDS, L - North Dakota State University

Submitted to: Animal
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/26/2025
Publication Date: 6/6/2025
Citation: Caton, J.S., Crouse, M.S., Dahlen, C.R., Ward, A.K., Diniz, W.J., Hammer, C.J., Swanson, R.M., Hauxwell, K.M., Reynolds, L.P. 2025. Review: Micronutrient supply, developmental programming, and strategic supplementation in ruminant livestock. Animal. 19(Supplement 2). Article 101563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2025.101563.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2025.101563

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Developmental programming, also known as fetal programming, is the idea that changes in offspring development with both immediate and longer-term consequences can arise from in utero stress, including compromised maternal nutrition. Large animal models of demonstrate that perturbed maternal nutrition, including macro- and micronutrient supply, (amino acids, vitamins, and trace elements) can alter development during gestational and postnatal offspring outcomes. Strategic supplementation of micronutrients (methionine, arginine, selenium, folate, vitamin B12, choline, cobalt, sulfur and others) also alters placental function and therefore, fetal nutrient supply. Specifically, in the offspring, multiple visceral tissues, metabolism, growth, and reproduction are impacted by compromised nutrition and these effects are potentially mitigated by strategic supplementation. Furthermore, compromised maternal nutrition and strategic supplementation alter gene expression, metabolomic patterns, and biochemical pathways in the offspring. Developmental programming is mechanistically driven, at least in part, by epigenetic mechanism and one carbon-metabolism and associated specific micronutrients. The concept of developmental programming is strongly supported by data from ruminant animal models, wherein compromised maternal nutrition is a stressor driving programming events. Changes in the offspring’s transcriptome and metabolome can be influenced by changes in maternal nutrition during development. Evidence suggests that strategic supplementation of micronutrients potentially mitigates the compromised development. Future research needs include efforts focused on: mechanistic investigations, livestock production outcomes, animal health implications, and host-microbiome interrelationships associated with maternal nutrition, developmental programming and strategic supplementation.