Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Award Date

2014

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department / School

Animal Science

First Advisor

Amanda Blair

Abstract

Fetal or developmental programming evaluates the effects of maternal alterations on the developing fetus and the potential consequences later in life. To understand the effects of mid-gestation energy restriction on beef cows and their calves the objectives of this dissertation were to determine the effects of dietary energy restriction on measurements associated with cow energy status, and the effects on growth performance, the humoral immune response, and subcutaneous adipose tissue gene expression in the resultant beef offspring. Pregnant beef cows were allotted into 2 treatment groups during mid-gestation: 1) fed at maintenance (Positive Energy Status (PES)); or 2) fed just below maintenance (Negative Energy Status (NES)). Cows were evaluated for parameters reflective of cow energy status. Positive energy status cows maintained or gained condition where the NES cows lost condition during the mid-gestation treatment period, indicating the intended treatment was met. Progeny were evaluated for growth performance characteristics from birth through the finishing phase. Birth weight was decreased in NES heifer calves (P0.05). Two genes important in adipose differentiation had a tendency (P

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Beef cattle -- Fetuses -- Growth
Beef cattle -- Fetuses -- Nutrition
Calves -- Growth
Calves -- Immunology
Gene expression

Description

Includes bibliographical references

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

196

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/

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