Different prenatal supplementation strategies and its impacts on reproductive and nutrigenetics assessments of bulls in finishing phase

Author(s)

Gebim Polizel, Guilherme Henrique ; Espigolan, Rafael ; Fantinato-Neto, Paulo ; Strefezzi, Ricardo de Francisco ; Rangel, Raissa Braido ; de Carli, Cynthia ; Fernandes, Aricia Christofaro ; Ferreira Dias, Evandro Fernando ; Cracco, Roberta Cavalcante ; de Almeida Santana, Miguel Henrique

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: VETERINARY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS; v. N/A, p. 15-pg., 2022-06-25.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of different prenatal nutrition approaches in 126 pregnant Nellore cows on reproductive and nutrigenetic traits of the male offspring during the finishing phase. For that purpose, three nutritional treatments were used in these cows during pregnancy: PP - protein-energy supplementation in the final third, FP - protein-energy supplementation during the entire pregnancy, and NP - (control) only mineral supplementation. The male progeny (63 bulls; 665 +/- 28 days of age) were evaluated for scrotal circumference, seminal traits, number of Sertoli cells and testicular area. We performed a genomic association (700 K SNPs) for scrotal circumference at this age. In addition, a functional enrichment was performed in search of significant metabolic pathways (P < 0.05) with inclusion of genes that are expressed in these genomic windows by the MetaCore software. With the exception of major sperm defects (P < 0.1), the other phenotypes showed no difference between prenatal treatments. We found genes and metabolic pathways (P < 0.05) that are associated with genomic windows (genetic variance explained >1%) in different treatments. These molecular findings indicate that there is genotype-environment interaction among the different prenatal treatments and that the FP treatment showed greater major sperm defects compared to the NP treatment. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/12105-2 - Fenomics of fetal programming effects on beef cattle production: a systemic approach
• Grantee: Miguel Henrique de Almeida Santana
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 21/03265-1 - Use of systems biology tools to evaluate the effects of fetal programming in beef cattle
• Grantee: Guilherme Henrique Gebim Polizel
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate