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Fouéré C, Hozé C, Besnard F, Boussaha M, Boichard D, Sanchez MP. Investigating the impact of paternal age, paternal heat stress, and estimation of non-genetic paternal variance on dairy cow phenotype. Genet Sel Evol 2024; 56:46. [PMID: 38890567 PMCID: PMC11184688 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-024-00918-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Linear models that are commonly used to predict breeding values in livestock species consider paternal influence solely as a genetic effect. However, emerging evidence in several species suggests the potential effect of non-genetic semen-mediated paternal effects on offspring phenotype. This study contributes to such research by analyzing the extent of non-genetic paternal effects on the performance of Holstein, Montbéliarde, and Normande dairy cows. Insemination data, including semen Batch Identifier (BI, a combination of bull identification and collection date), was associated with various traits measured in cows born from the insemination. These traits encompassed stature, milk production (milk, fat, and protein yields), udder health (somatic cell score and clinical mastitis), and female fertility (conception rates of heifers and cows). We estimated (1) the effects of age at collection and heat stress during spermatogenesis, and (2) the variance components associated with BI or Weekly aggregated BI (WBI). RESULTS Overall, the non-genetic paternal effect estimates were small and of limited biological importance. However, while heat stress during spermatogenesis did not show significant associations with any of the traits studied in daughters, we observed significant effects of bull age at semen collection on the udder health of daughters. Indeed, cows born from bulls collected after 1500 days of age had higher somatic cell scores compared to those born from bulls collected at a younger age (less than 400 days old) in both Holstein and Normande breeds (+ 3% and + 5% of the phenotypic mean, respectively). In addition, across all breeds and traits analyzed, the estimates of non-genetic paternal variance were consistently low, representing on average 0.13% and 0.09% of the phenotypic variance for BI and WBI, respectively (ranging from 0 to 0.7%). These estimates did not significantly differ from zero, except for milk production traits (milk, fat, and protein yields) in the Holstein breed and protein yield in the Montbéliarde breed when WBI was considered. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that non-genetic paternal information transmitted through semen does not substantially influence the offspring phenotype in dairy cattle breeds for routinely measured traits. This lack of substantial impact may be attributed to limited transmission or minimal exposure of elite bulls to adverse conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corentin Fouéré
- Eliance, 75012, Paris, France.
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Chris Hozé
- Eliance, 75012, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Florian Besnard
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Idele, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Mekki Boussaha
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Didier Boichard
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Sanchez
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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Feuz MB, Nelson DC, Miller LB, Zwerdling AE, Meyer RG, Meyer-Ficca ML. Reproductive Ageing: Current insights and a potential role of NAD in the reproductive health of aging fathers and their children. Reproduction 2024; 167:e230486. [PMID: 38471307 PMCID: PMC11075800 DOI: 10.1530/rep-23-0486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
In brief In light of the increasing age of first-time fathers, this article summarizes the current scientific knowledge base on reproductive aging in the male, including sperm quality and health impacts for the offspring. The emerging role of NAD decline in reproductive aging is highlighted. Abstract Over the past decades, the age of first-time fathers has been steadily increasing due to socio-economic pressures. While general mechanisms of aging are subject to intensive research, male reproductive aging has remained an understudied area, and the effects of increased age on the male reproductive system are still only poorly understood, despite new insights into the potential dire consequences of advanced paternal age for the health of their progeny. There is also growing evidence that reproductive aging is linked to overall health in men, but this review mainly focuses on pathophysiological consequences of old age in men, such as low sperm count and diminished sperm genetic integrity, with an emphasis on mechanisms underlying reproductive aging. The steady decline of NAD levels observed in aging men represents one of the emerging concepts in that regard. Because it offers some mechanistic rationale explaining the effects of old age on the male reproductive system, some of the NAD-dependent functions in male reproduction are briefly outlined in this review. The overview also provides many questions that remain open about the basic science of male reproductive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan B. Feuz
- Department of Veterinary, Clinical and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- These authors contributed equally
| | - D. Colton Nelson
- Department of Veterinary, Clinical and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Laura B. Miller
- Department of Veterinary, Clinical and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Alexie E Zwerdling
- Department of Veterinary, Clinical and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Ralph G. Meyer
- Department of Veterinary, Clinical and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Mirella L. Meyer-Ficca
- Department of Veterinary, Clinical and Life Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
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Barcellos JOJ, Zago D, Fagundes HX, Pereira GR, Sartori ED. Foetal programming in sheep: Reproductive and productive implications. Anim Reprod Sci 2024; 265:107494. [PMID: 38723401 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pregnant ewe nutrition on the performance of offspring in terms of meat, wool production, and reproduction. Foetal programming in sheep has focused on several aspects related to foetal growth, postnatal production, behaviour, and immunological performance. Currently, significant efforts are being made to understand the endocrine, metabolic, and epigenetic mechanisms involved in offspring development. Current studies have not only evaluated the foetal period, despite the pre-conception parental nutrition has demonstrated an effect on the foetal, embryonic, and pre-implantation periods and can generate permanent effects in the foetal and postnatal phases. The performance of offspring is the result of interactions between the genome, epigenome, and environmental interventions during conception. Several factors influence the expression of phenotypic characteristics in progenies; however, this study focused on presenting data on the effect of pregnant ewe nutrition alone on foetal growth and the productive aspects of their offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniele Zago
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul - Department of Animal Science, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Helena Xavier Fagundes
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul - Department of Animal Science, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Everton Dezordi Sartori
- Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul - Department of Animal Science, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Martin GB. Perspective: science and the future of livestock industries. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1359247. [PMID: 38282972 PMCID: PMC10808306 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1359247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the 1990s, livestock industries have been forced to respond to major pressures from society, particularly with respect to methane emissions and animal welfare. These challenges are exacerbated by the inevitability of global heating and the effects it will have on livestock productivity. The same challenges also led to questions about the value of animal-sourced foods for feeding the world. The industries and the research communities supporting them are meeting those challenges. For example, we can now envisage solutions to the ruminant methane problem and those solutions will also improve the efficiency of meat and milk production. Animal welfare is a complex mix of health, nutrition and management. With respect to health, the 'One Health' concept is offering better perspectives, and major diseases, such as helminth infection, compounded by resistance against medication, are being resolved through genetic selection. With respect to nutrition and stress, 'fetal programming' and the epigenetic mechanisms involved offer novel possibilities for improving productivity. Stress needs to be minimized, including stress caused by extreme weather events, and solutions are emerging through technology that reveals when animals are stressed, and through an understanding of the genes that control susceptibility to stress. Indeed, discoveries in the molecular biology of physiological processes will greatly accelerate genetic progress by contributing to genomic solutions. Overall, the global context is clear - animal-sourced food is an important contributor to the future of humanity, but the responses of livestock industries must involve local actions that are relevant to geographical and socio-economic constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme B. Martin
- The UWA Institute of Agriculture and UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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Reynolds LP, Dahlen CR, Ward AK, Crouse MS, Borowicz PP, Davila-Ruiz BJ, Kanjanaruch C, Bochantin KA, McLean KJ, McCarthy KL, Menezes ACB, Diniz WJS, Cushman RA, Caton JS. Role of the placenta in developmental programming: Observations from models using large animals. Anim Reprod Sci 2023; 257:107322. [PMID: 37696224 PMCID: PMC10591737 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Developmental programming, which proposes that "insults" or "stressors" during intrauterine or postnatal development can have not only immediate but also long-term consequences for healthy and productivity, has emerged as a major biological principle, and based on studies in many animal species also seems to be a universal phenomenon. In eutherians, the placenta appears to be programmed during its development, which has consequences for fetal growth and development throughout pregnancy, and likewise has long-term consequences for postnatal development, leading to programming of organ function of the offspring even into adulthood. This review summarizes our current understanding of the placenta's role in developmental programming, the mechanisms involved, and the challenges remaining.
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Affiliation(s)
- L P Reynolds
- Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, and Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA.
| | - C R Dahlen
- Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, and Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA
| | - A K Ward
- Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, and Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA
| | - M S Crouse
- Nutrition, Growth, and Physiology Research Unit, USDA/Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA
| | - P P Borowicz
- Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, and Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA
| | - B J Davila-Ruiz
- Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, and Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA
| | - C Kanjanaruch
- Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, and Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA
| | - K A Bochantin
- Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, and Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA
| | - K J McLean
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN 37996-4500, USA
| | - K L McCarthy
- Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0908, USA
| | - A C B Menezes
- Department of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57006, USA
| | - W J S Diniz
- Department of Animal Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36832, USA
| | - R A Cushman
- Nutrition, Growth, and Physiology Research Unit, USDA/Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933-0166, USA
| | - J S Caton
- Center for Nutrition and Pregnancy, and Department of Animal Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA
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