scholarly journals Consequences of prenatal and preweaning growth for yield of beef primal cuts from 30-month-old Piedmontese- and Wagyu-sired cattle

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 468 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. Greenwood ◽  
L. M. Cafe ◽  
H. Hearnshaw ◽  
D. W. Hennessy ◽  
S. G. Morris

Cattle sired by Piedmontese or Wagyu bulls were bred and grown within pasture-based nutritional systems followed by feedlot finishing. Effects of low (mean 28.6 kg, n = 120) and high (38.8 kg, n = 120) birthweight followed by slow (mean 554 g/day, n = 119) or rapid (875 g/day, n = 121) growth to weaning on beef primal cut weights at ~30 months of age were examined. Cattle of low birthweight or grown slowly to weaning had smaller primal cuts at 30 months as a result of reduced liveweight and smaller carcasses compared with their high birthweight or rapidly grown counterparts. Hence they require additional nutritional and economic inputs to reach target market weights. At equivalent carcass weights (380 kg), cattle restricted in growth from birth to weaning yielded slightly more beef and were somewhat leaner than their rapidly grown counterparts, resulting in primal cuts being up to 4% heavier in the slowly grown compared with the rapidly grown cattle. Compositional differences due to birthweight were less apparent at the same carcass weight, although low birthweight cattle had a slightly (~2%) heavier forequarter and slightly lower (~1%) hindquarter retail yield, and less shin-shank meat (~2%) than high birthweight cattle, suggesting only minor effects on carcass tissue distribution. There were few interactions between sire genotype and birthweight or preweaning growth, and interactions between birthweight and preweaning growth were not evident for any variables. However, variability between cohorts in their long-term responses to growth early in life suggests other environmental factors during early-life and/or subsequent growth influenced carcass yield characteristics. Overall, this study shows that effects of birthweight and preweaning growth rate on carcass compositional and yield characteristics were mostly explained by variation in carcass weight and, hence, in whole body growth to 30 months of age.

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 459 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Gatford ◽  
C. T. Roberts ◽  
K. L. Kind ◽  
P. I. Hynd

Animal producers are well aware that a low-birthweight animal is more likely to die in the first few days of life, and, if it survives, it is likely to perform poorly. We are now coming to appreciate that early life events can permanently change an animal’s developmental trajectory, also often referred to as developmental programming. This is an area of current interest in biomedicine, where the concept is known as the ‘developmental origins of health and disease’ (DOHaD). Current gaps in understanding include many of the underlying mechanisms, and whether and how we might intervene and restore the potential for healthy and productive development. This review introduces the biomedical perspective of developmental programming, reviews some of the evidence for long-term effects of early life exposures on welfare and productivity in animal production, with a focus on prenatal growth and maternal stress in pig production, and discusses options for intervening to improve long-term outcomes.


1975 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 501-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine D. Thomson ◽  
Bridget A. Robinson ◽  
R. D. H. Stewart ◽  
Marion F. Robinson

1. The long-term fate in rats of an oral dose of [75Se]selenocystine was compared with that of an oral dose of [75Se]selenomethionine.2. Urinary and faecal radioactivities were measured during the 1st week and whole-body radioactivity was determined for 10 weeks. Rats were killed at weekly intervals for 4 weeks and at weeks 6 and 10 for analysis of tissue distribution of 75Se.3. Intestinal absorption of [75Se]selenocystine was 81% of the administered dose; that of [75Se]selenomethionine was 86%. Urinary excretion of absorbed [75Se]selenocystine was 13.9% and that of [75Se]selenomethionine was 5.8%, in the 1st week.4. Whole-body retention of 75Se was greater for [75Se]selenomethionine than for [75Se]-selenocystine but after the 1st week it decreased at a similar rate in both groups. Tissue distribution of retained 75Se was also similar in both groups.5. The initial utilization of [75Se]selenocystine was different from that of [75Se]selenomethionine. However, after the 1st week 75Se from both sources appeared to be metabolized similarly, suggesting that dietary Se of both forms is ultimately incorporated into the same metabolic pool.6. When these findings were compared with those of earlier studies with [75Se]selenite and 75Se incorporated in vivo into rabbit kidney (RK-75Se) (Thomson, Stewart & Robinson, 1975) the metabolism of [75Se]selenocystine resembled that of [75Se]selenite and RK-75Se, rather than that of [75Se]selenomethionine.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle M Polan ◽  
Mohammad Alansari ◽  
Byoungchun Lee ◽  
Savraj Grewal

ABSTRACTIn many animals, short-term fluctuations in environmental conditions in early life often exert long-term effects on adult physiology. In Drosophila, one ecologically relevant environmental variable is hypoxia. Drosophila larvae live on rotting, fermenting food rich in microorganisms – an environment characterized by low ambient oxygen. They have therefore evolved to tolerate hypoxia. While the acute effects of hypoxia in larvae have been well studied, whether early-life hypoxia affects adult physiology and fitness is less clear. Here we show that Drosophila exposed to hypoxia during their larval period subsequently show reduced starvation stress resistance and shorter lifespan as adults, with these effects being stronger in males. We find that these effects are associated with reduced whole-body insulin signaling but elevated TOR kinase activity, a manipulation known to reduce lifespan. We also identify a sexually dimorphic effect of larval hypoxia on adult nutrient storage and mobilization. Thus, we find that males, but not females, showing elevated levels of lipids and glycogen. Moreover, we see that both males and females exposed to hypoxia as larvae show defective lipid mobilization upon starvation stress as adults. These data show how early-life hypoxia can exert persistent, sexually dimorphic, long-term effects on Drosophila adult physiology and lifespan.


1983 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 555-570
Author(s):  
Hilkka Kenttämies

During the years 1971-77 the carcass weight of fattening calves delivered from dairy herds increased by 40kg. During the same period the differencies between areas grew smaller. The growth rate and carcass traits were affected by feed type of the farm, rearing time, sex of the calf and breed of sire. In comparison with the Ayrshire bulls, the carcass weight of contemporary Charolais bulls was 16 and of Friesian 12%-units higher, but of Finncattle bulls 7%-units lower. Differencies between heifers were still larger. The growth rate of Ch and Fr remained on a high level longer than that of Ay and Fc. The heritability estimates of Ay and (Fr) were .23 (.61) for carcass weight,.39 (.77) for net growth, .14 (.15) for carcass score and .06 (.26) for fatness score. Differencies between farms within feed type consisted of about 50 % of the variation in growth rate and carcass weight, and about 25 % in carcass scores. Feeding was more consistent on farms with mere indoor feeding than on farms where the animals were also kept on pasture.


2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Cafe ◽  
D. W. Hennessy ◽  
H. Hearnshaw ◽  
S. G. Morris ◽  
P. L. Greenwood

Consequences of low (mean 28.0 kg, n = 77) and high (mean 38.4 kg, n = 77) birthweight followed by slow (mean 548 g/day, n = 75) or rapid (mean 859 g/day, n = 79) growth to weaning for feedlot growth, intake and efficiency from 26 to 30 months of age were determined in Wagyu × Hereford (n = 81) and Piedmontese × Hereford (n = 73) cattle. Cattle were selected for study based on birthweight and preweaning growth rate, from multi-modal distributions achieved by imposition of low or high maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, with the objective of achieving as close as possible to a 30% difference in birthweight and a 2-fold difference in preweaning growth rate between progeny groups. High birthweight cattle entered the intake test 57 kg heavier, grew 100 g/day more rapidly, and ate 1.0 kg dry matter /day more than the low birthweight cattle. The high birthweight cattle tended to have a higher feed conversion ratio than low birthweight cattle, but net feed intake did not differ due to birthweight group. Cattle grown rapidly to weaning entered the intake test 29 kg heavier, grew at an equivalent rate, and ate 0.7 kg dry matter/day more than the cattle grown slowly to weaning. No differences in feed conversion ratio or net feed intake were observed between the preweaning groups. When assessed at the same liveweight, differences in dry matter intake and/or feed conversion ratio due to birthweight or preweaning growth were no longer apparent. Interactions between prenatal and preweaning growth, or between sire genotype and early-life growth, were not evident for feedlot growth, intake or efficiency. It is concluded that severely restricted growth during prenatal life or from birth to weaning results in cattle that are smaller and consume less feed at the same age as their well grown counterparts; however, long-term effects of growth during early life on efficiency of utilisation of feed are not evident.


1973 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine D. Thomson ◽  
R. D. H. Stewart

1. Information was sought concerning the long-term fate of orally and intravenously administered [75Se]selenomethionine and [75Se]selenite in rats.2. Urinary and faecal radioactivity was assayed during the 1st week and whole-body radio-activity was determined weekly for 16 weeks. Rats were killed at intervals for analysis of 75Se tissue distribution.3. Intestinal absorption after oral administration was estimated to be 91–93% for selenite and 95–97% for selenomethionine.4. Urinary excretion of absorbed [75Se]selenite was greater than that of [75Se]selenomethionine during the 1st week.5. After the 1st week, whole-body retention diminished exponentially at a similar rate in rats given either selenomethionine or selenite. Except for the erythrocytes, 75Se content of individual tissues also decreased exponentially.6. It appears that, after an initial period, 75Se from either selenomethionine or selenite is metabolized similarly, suggesting that Se from both potential dietary sources is ultimately incorporated into the same metabolic pool.


2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (22) ◽  
pp. jeb226027
Author(s):  
Danielle M. Polan ◽  
Mohammed Alansari ◽  
Byoungchun Lee ◽  
Savraj S. Grewal

ABSTRACTIn many animals, short-term fluctuations in environmental conditions in early life often exert long-term effects on adult physiology. In Drosophila, one ecologically relevant environmental variable is hypoxia. Drosophila larvae live on rotting, fermenting food rich in microorganisms, an environment characterized by low ambient oxygen. They have therefore evolved to tolerate hypoxia. Although the acute effects of hypoxia in larvae have been well studied, whether early-life hypoxia affects adult physiology and fitness is less clear. Here, we show that Drosophila exposed to hypoxia during their larval period subsequently show reduced starvation stress resistance and shorter lifespan as adults, with these effects being stronger in males. We find that these effects are associated with reduced whole-body insulin signaling but elevated TOR kinase activity, a manipulation known to reduce lifespan. We also identify a sexually dimorphic effect of larval hypoxia on adult nutrient storage and mobilization. Thus, we find that males, but not females, show elevated levels of lipids and glycogen. Moreover, we see that both males and females exposed to hypoxia as larvae show defective lipid mobilization upon starvation stress as adults. These data demonstrate how early-life hypoxia can exert persistent, sexually dimorphic, long-term effects on Drosophila adult physiology and lifespan.


1977 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Richold ◽  
Marion F. Robinson ◽  
R. D. H. Stewart

1.[75Se]selenite or [75Selenomethionine was injected into the coelomic cavity of fish. After 2 d or 14 d the muscle portion of the fish was removed and homogenized. The long-term fate in rats of an oral dose of each labelled homogenate was compared with that of an oral dose of [75Se]selenite or [75Se]selenomethionine mixed with unlabelled fish homogenate.2.Urinary and faecal radioactivity were measured during the 1st week and whole-body radioactivity was determined for 10 weeks. Rats were killed at weekly intervals for 4 weeks for analysis of tissue distribution of 75Se.3.Intestinal absorption of 75Se given as labelled fish homogenate was less complete than that of 75Se mixed with unlabelled homogenate, and the absorption of 75Se from the 14d-labelled fish homogenate derived from [75Se]selenite was less complete than that of 75Se from the other labelled homogenates.4.Urinary excretion of absorbed 75Se in the first 7 d was in the range 5-8 % absorbed dose and was slightly greater in the rats given 75Se as selenite or derived from selenite than in those given 75Se as selenomethionine or derived from selenomethionine. Endogenous faecal excretion of absorbed Se was similar in all groups, as also were tissue distribution of retained 75Se and long-term whole-body turnover rate.5.The results of these studies are compared with those of earlier studies of the metabolism in rats of [75Selenomethionine, [75Se]selenite, [75Sejselenocystine and 75Se incorporated in vivo into rabbit kidney. There were differences in the initial utilization of 75Se from these various sources but after the 1st week 75Se from all sources appeared to be metabolized similarly, suggesting that for rats dietary Se of all forms is ultimately incorporated into the same metabolic pool.


1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
IR Dann ◽  
PH Jerie ◽  
DJ Chalmers

For 2-3 days after all except one of the secondary limbs of a peach tree were girdled, all limbs (including the non-girdled limb) shrank. Shrinkage and subsequent growth was greatest in the zone immediately above the girdle whereas growth was least immediately below. After initial shrinkage the growth rate of the cambium, at specific positions in relation to the girdle, was more-or-less constant and consistent with the long-term effect of the girdle at each position. The concentration of indole-3-ylacetic acid (IAA) extracted from the bark immediately above the girdle first increased sharply but then decreased to the level in the non-girdled limb. On the other hand, beneath the girdle the IAA concentration decreased by 75% and remained low. Thus, immediately above the girdle IAA concentration in the bark increased while the limb shrank, and declined before the cambial growth rate increased. Beneath the girdle, however, the concentration of IAA was severely depleted while growth of the limb was inhibited. The possible implications of these observations in relation to control mechanisms of cambial growth are discussed.


1975 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine D. Thomson ◽  
R. D. H Stewart ◽  
Marion F. Robinson

1. [75Se]selenomethionine was administered to four rabbits and after 4 d their kidneys were removed and homogenized. The long-term fate in rats of an oral dose of this kidney homogenate (RK-75Se) was compared with that of an oral dose of [75Se]selenomethionine mixed with unlabelled rabbit kidney homogenate.2. Urinary and faecal radioactivities were measured during the 1st week and whole-body radioactivity was determined for 10 weeks. Rats were killed at weekly intervals for 4 weeks for analysis of tissue distribution of 75Se.3. Intestinal absorption of RK-75Se was 87%; that of [75Se]selenomethionine was 91%. Urinary excretion of absorbed RK-75Se was 13·3% and that of [75Se]selenomethionine was 7·6%, in the 1st week.4. Whole-body retention of 75Se was greater for [75Se]selenomethione than for RK-75Se but after the 1st week decreased at a similar rate in both groups. Tissue distribution of retained 75Se was also similar in both groups.5. The initial utilization of 75Se in rabbit kidney is different from that of [75Se]selenomethionine. However, after the 1st week 75Se from these sources appears to be metabolized similarly, suggesting that Se from both is ultimately incorporated into the same metabolic pool.


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