Supranutritional Maternal Organic Selenium Supplementation during Different Trimesters of Pregnancy Affects the Muscle Gene Transcriptome of Newborn Beef Calves in a Time-Dependent Manner

Selenium Injection in Dam Rabbits During Gestation Has Important Effects on Progeny Productive Performance

Micromineral elements have a fundamental participation in the processes of organogenesis and fetal development. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of selenium (Se) injection in pregnant female rabbits, during organogenesis or rapid fetal growth, on the productive performance of their progeny. An experiment was carried out with 30 New Zealand female rabbits, with an average age of 6 months. At the end of mating (day 0), using a randomized complete design, the female rabbits were distributed into three experimental groups, which were assigned to the following treatments: Control, female rabbits were injected intramuscularly (IM) with 0.5 ml of saline on days 13 and 23 of gestation; Early administration, female rabbits that were injected IM with Se (0.10 mg/kg BW) on day 13 of gestation (organogenesis) and 0.5 ml of saline on day 23 of gestation; and Late administration, female rabbits that were injected IM with 0.5 ml of saline on day 13 of gestation and Se (0.10 mg/kg BW) on day 23 of gestation (rapid fetal growth). No differences were found on kindling performance of dams and pre-weaning growth of rabbit offspring. However, an injection of Se to pregnant rabbits affected the growth and development of their progeny, with the treatment leading to changes in the yield of some carcass traits (forelimb weight and forelimb muscle weight) and weights of some organs (liver, lungs, and spleen). The Se treatment (both early and late) also resulted in lower concentrations of glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol when compared to the control group. These effects were different when Se injection was performed during organogenesis or rapid fetal development. The results from this study suggest that there are beneficial effects of gestational Se injection of rabbit dams on important productive traits of their progeny.

Supplementing vitamins and minerals to beef heifers during gestation: impacts on mineral status in the dam and offspring, and growth and physiological responses of female offspring from birth to puberty

We evaluated the effects of feeding a vitamin and mineral supplement to nulliparous beef heifers throughout gestation on the mineral status of the dam, calf, placenta, and colostrum; offspring growth performance; and physiological responses of offspring raised as replacement heifers. Angus-based heifers (n = 31, initial body weight [BW] = 412.5 ± 53.68 kg) were adapted to an individual feeding system for 14 d, estrus synchronized and bred with female-sexed semen. Heifers were ranked by BW and randomly assigned to receive either a basal diet (CON; n = 14) or the basal diet plus 113 g heifer-1 d-1 of the vitamin and mineral supplement (VTM; n = 17). Targeted BW gains for both treatments was 0.45 kg heifer-1 d-1. Liver biopsies were obtained from dams at breeding, days 84 and 180 of gestation. At calving, liver biopsies were taken from dams and calves; colostrum, placenta, and blood samples were collected; and calf body measurements were recorded. After calving, all cow-calf pairs received a common diet through weaning, and F1 heifer calves were managed similarly after weaning. Offspring growth performance, feeding behavior, blood metabolites, and hormones were evaluated from birth through 15 mo of age. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS with repeated measures where appropriate. Hepatic concentrations of Se decreased in VTM dams (P ≤ 0.05) from day 84 to calving, while concentrations of Cu decreased in VTM and CON (P ≤ 0.05) from day 84 to calving. Calf liver concentrations of Se, Cu, Zn, and Co at birth were greater for VTM than CON (P ≤ 0.05), but calf birth BW and body measurements were not different (P = 0.45). Placental Se, colostrum quantity, total Se, Cu, Zn, and Mn in colostrum were greater (P ≤ 0.04) in VTM dams than CON. Finally, offspring from VTM dams were heavier than CON (P < 0.0001) from weaning through 15 mo of age. These results were coupled with greater (P ≤ 0.04) blood glucose at birth, decreased (P ≤ 0.05) blood urea nitrogen at pasture turn out and weaning, and altered feeding behaviors in VTM offspring compared with CON. Maternal gestational vitamin and mineral supplementation enhanced mineral status in dams and F1 progeny, augmented postnatal offspring growth and blood metabolites. Consequently, in utero vitamin and mineral supplementation may exert programming outcomes on the performance and productivity of females raised as herd replacements and should be considered when developing diets for gestating cows and heifers.

Maternal Mineral Nutrition Regulates Fetal Genomic Programming in Cattle: A Review

Maternal mineral nutrition during the critical phases of fetal development may leave lifetime impacts on the productivity of an individual. Most research within the developmental origins of the health and disease (DOHaD) field is focused on the role of macronutrients in the genome function and programming of the developing fetus. On the other hand, there is a paucity of knowledge about the role of micronutrients and, specifically, minerals in regulating the epigenome of livestock species, especially cattle. Therefore, this review will address the effects of the maternal dietary mineral supply on the fetal developmental programming from the embryonic to the postnatal phases in cattle. To this end, we will draw a parallel between findings from our cattle model research with data from model animals, cell lines, and other livestock species. The coordinated role and function of different mineral elements in feto-maternal genomic regulation underlies the establishment of pregnancy and organogenesis and, ultimately, affects the development and functioning of metabolically important tissues, such as the fetal liver, skeletal muscle, and, importantly, the placenta. Through this review, we will delineate the key regulatory pathways involved in fetal programming based on the dietary maternal mineral supply and its crosstalk with epigenomic regulation in cattle.

Periconceptual Maternal Nutrition Affects Fetal Liver Programming of Energy- and Lipid-Related Genes

During pregnancy, the fetus relies on the dam for its nutrient supply. Nutritional stimuli during fetal organ development can program hepatic metabolism and function. Herein, we investigated the role of vitamin and mineral supplementation (VTM or NoVTM-at least 71 days pre-breeding to day 83 of gestation) and rate of weight gain (low (LG) or moderate (MG)-from breeding to day 83) on the fetal liver transcriptome and the underlying biological pathways. Crossbred Angus beef heifers (n = 35) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design (VTM_LG, VTM_MG, NoVTM_LG, and NoVTM_MG). Gene expression was measured with RNA-Seq in fetal livers collected on day 83 ± 0.27 of gestation. Our results show that vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of weight gain led to the differential expression of hepatic genes in all treatments. We identified 591 unique differentially expressed genes across all six VTM-gain contrasts (FDR ≤ 0.1). Over-represented pathways were related to energy metabolism, including PPAR and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, as well as lipid metabolism, mineral transport, and amino acid transport. Our findings suggest that periconceptual maternal nutrition affects fetal hepatic function through altered expression of energy- and lipid-related genes.

Maternal organic selenium supplementation during gestation enhances muscle fiber area and muscle fiber maturation of offspring in porcine model

Background

Organic selenium supplementation during gestation improves the antioxidant status and reproductive performance of sows and increases the antioxidative capacity of the intestines of their offspring. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of maternal basel diet (control) supplemented with an organic Se, 2-hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA), or inorganic sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) during gestation on the antioxidant status and development of muscle in newborn and weaned piglets. Newborn piglets before colostrum intake and weaned piglets were selected for longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle collection and analysis.

Results

The results showed that maternal HMSeBA supplementation increased the muscle area and content of Se in the LD muscle of newborn piglets, improved gene expression of selenoproteins, and decreased oxidative status in the LD muscle of both newborn and weaned piglets compared with the control. The expression of muscle development-related genes of newborn piglets in the HMSeBA group was lower than in the control group, whereas the expression of MRF4 in weaned piglets was higher in the HMSeBA group than in the control and Na₂SeO₃ groups. In addition, HMSeBA supplementation decreased the mRNA expressions of myosin heavy chains (MyHC) IIx and MyHC IIb and the percentage of MyHC IIb; increased the expression of PGC-1α in the LD muscle of newborn piglets; increased the gene expression of MyHC IIa; and decreased the protein expression of slow MyHC and the activity of malate dehydrogenase in the LD muscle of weaned piglets compared with the control group.

Conclusions

Maternal HMSeBA supplementation during gestation can improve the antioxidative capacity of the muscle of their offspring and promote the maturity of muscle fibres in weaned offspring.

Prepartum maternal supplementation of Capsicum oleoresin improves colostrum quality and buffalo calves' performance

The present study aims to evaluate the effects of prepartum maternal supplementation of Capsicum oleoresin (CAP) on colostrum quality and growth performance in newborn buffalo calves. Twelve multiparous buffaloes were randomly assigned to two groups starting from 4 weeks prepartum: the control group with a basal diet (CON) and the treatment group with a basal diet supplemented with 20 mg CAP/kg dry matter (CAP20). After birth, all calves were weighed and received colostrum from their respective dam directly within 2 h. After that, calves received pasteurized milk and starter feed till 56 days of age. The results showed that CAP increased lactose (P < 0.05) in colostrum, and it tended to increase monounsaturated fatty acids; however, it decreased colostrum urea nitrogen (P < 0.10). CAP did not affect colostrum yield and immunoglobulin G and M concentrations. The weekly starter intake was not affected by maternal CAP supplementation during the first 6 weeks of life. There was an increasing tendency in weekly starter intake from weeks 7 and 8 (P < 0.10) in CAP20 compared with CON. At 7 days of age, calves in CAP20 had higher immunoglobulin G (P < 0.05) and a decreased tendency in calves' serum glucose compared with CON. Additionally, maternal CAP supplementation increased calves' serum β-hydroxybutyric acid (P < 0.05) and tended to increase total protein (P < 0.10), while decreased non-esterified fatty acids (P < 0.05) at 56 days of age. Calves in CAP20 had higher final withers height, final heart girth, average withers height, and average heart girth than the CON (P < 0.05). These results suggest that maternal CAP supplementation could improve colostrum quality and positively affect the performance of buffalo calves.

Supranutritional Selenium-Yeast Supplementation of Beef Cows during the Last Trimester of Pregnancy Results in Higher Whole-Blood Selenium Concentrations in Their Calves at Weaning, but Not Enough to Improve Nasal Microbial Diversity

We previously reported that feeding Se-biofortified alfalfa hay to weaned beef calves in a preconditioning program increases whole-blood Se (WB-Se) concentrations and nasal microbiome abundance and diversity during the preconditioning period, decreases morbidity and mortality during the feedlot period, and increases carcass weight and quality at slaughter. The objective of the current study was to see whether similar improvements can be achieved through Se supplementation of dams during various pregnancy trimesters. In a two-year experimental study, 80 Angus-cross cows received once-weekly Se-yeast boluses containing 105 mg of Se, during either the first (TR-1), second (TR-2), or third (TR-3) pregnancy trimester, or were not bolused (CTR). Whole-blood Se concentrations were higher from CTR, to TR-1, to TR-2, and to TR-3 in newborn calves (all p < 0.01). At weaning, only calves from TR-3 mothers had higher WB-Se concentrations compared with calves from CTR mothers (p = 0.02), and no significant differences in nasal microbiome abundance and diversity or nasal microbiota were observed. In the feedlot period, morbidity was low, and no differences were observed. At slaughter, no differences in carcass weight and quality were observed. In conclusion, Se supplementation of pregnant cows is effective for increasing WB-Se concentration of newborn calves, and the increase can be sustained until weaning for calves born to TR-3 dams. However, the increase in WB-Se concentrations is small and does not result in beneficial changes in the nasal microbiome. Thus, calves should be fed Se-biofortified forages again at weaning in a preconditioning program in order to diversify the nasal microbiome prior to entering the feedlot.

Effects of Selenium Supplementation on Rumen Microbiota, Rumen Fermentation, and Apparent Nutrient Digestibility of Ruminant Animals: A Review

Enzymes excreted by rumen microbiome facilitate the conversion of ingested plant materials into major nutrients (e.g., volatile fatty acids (VFA) and microbial proteins) required for animal growth. Diet, animal age, and health affect the structure of the rumen microbial community. Pathogenic organisms in the rumen negatively affect fermentation processes in favor of energy loss and animal deprivation of nutrients in ingested feed. Drawing from the ban on antibiotic use during the last decade, the livestock industry has been focused on increasing rumen microbial nutrient supply to ruminants through the use of natural supplements that are capable of promoting the activity of beneficial rumen microflora. Selenium (Se) is a trace mineral commonly used as a supplement to regulate animal metabolism. However, a clear understanding of its effects on rumen microbial composition and rumen fermentation is not available. This review summarized the available literature for the effects of Se on specific rumen microorganisms along with consequences for rumen fermentation and digestibility. Some positive effects on total VFA, the molar proportion of propionate, acetate to propionate ratio, ruminal NH3-N, pH, enzymatic activity, ruminal microbiome composition, and digestibility were recorded. Because Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) were more effective than other forms of Se, more studies are needed to compare the effectiveness of synthetic SeNPs and lactic acid bacteria enriched with sodium selenite as a biological source of SeNPs and probiotics. Future studies also need to evaluate the effect of dietary Se on methane emissions.