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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #191667
Title: POSTPARTUM SUPPLEMENTAL FAT, BUT NOT MATERNAL BODY CONDITION SCORE AT PARTURITION, AFFECTS PLASMA AND ADIPOSE TISSUE FATTY ACID PROFILES OF SUCKING BEEF CALVES

Author
item LAKE, S. - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item Scholljegerdes, Eric
item WESTON, T. - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item RULE, D. - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
item HESS, B. - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2006
Publication Date: 6/12/2006
Citation: Lake, S.L., Scholljegerdes, E.J., Weston, T.R., Rule, D.C., Hess, B.W. 2006. Postpartum supplemental fat, but not maternal body condition score at parturition, affects plasma and adipose tissue fatty acid profiles of sucking beef calves. Journal of Animal Science.

Interpretive Summary: Beef cows were fed to achieve a thin or an ideal body condition in a 2-yr experiment (36 animals per year) to determine the effects of maternal body condition at calving and postcalving lipid supplementation on fatty acid profile of suckling calf plasma and fat tissue. Beginning 3 days postcalving, cows within each body condition were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments in which cows were all fed hay and either a low-fat supplement or supplements with either high-linoleate cracked safflower seeds or high-oleate cracked safflower seeds until day 61 of lactation. Diets were formulated to achieve 5% of intake as fat. Total concentration of fatty acids in plasma did not differ due to maternal BCS at parturition. Plasma concentrations of 20:5n-3, an important omega-3 fatty acid involved in immune function, tended to be greater for calves suckling cows with a BCS of 6 at calving. No other differences were noted in calf plasma fatty acid profile due to maternal BCS at parturition. Likewise, no differences were detected for total fatty acid concentration in calf adipose tissue due to maternal BCS at parturition. Calf plasma and adipose tissue fatty acid profiles were reflective of milk fatty acids. Because fatty acids play an important role in metabolic regulatory functions, changes in milk fatty acid profile should be considered when beef cows are fed lipid supplements.

Technical Abstract: Three-year-old Angus '''Gelbvieh beef cows, which were nutritionally managed to achieve a BCS of 4 ''0.07 (479 ''36 kg of BW) or 6 ''0.07 (580 ''53 kg of BW) at parturition, were used in a 2-yr experiment (n = 36/yr) to determine the effects of maternal BCS at parturition and postpartum lipid supplementation on fatty acid profile of suckling calf plasma and adipose tissue. Beginning 3 d postpartum, cows within each BCS were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments in which cows were all fed hay and either a low-fat (control) supplement or supplements with either high-linoleate cracked safflower seeds (linoleate) or high-oleate cracked safflower seeds (oleate) until d 61 of lactation. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric, and safflower seed supplements were provided to achieve 5% of DMI as fat. Total concentration of fatty acids in plasma did not differ (P = 0.48) due to maternal BCS at parturition. Percentage of 20:5n-3 in plasma tended (P = 0.06) to be greater for calves suckling cows with a BCS of 6 at parturition. No other differences (P = 0.12 to 0.99) were noted in calf plasma fatty acid profile due to maternal BCS at parturition. Likewise, no differences were detected for total fatty acid concentration (P = 0.88) in calf adipose tissue due to maternal BCS at parturition. Weight percentage of 14:1 (P = 0.001) was greatest in adipose tissue of calves suckling cows fed control and oleate; however, the percentages of 14:0, 15:0, 16:0, 16:1, 17:0, and 18:3n-3 were greater (P ''0.001) in adipose tissue from calves suckling cows fed control compared with calves suckling cows fed linoleate or oleate. Percentages of 18:0, 18:1trans-11, 18:2n-6, and cis-9, trans-11 CLA were greater (P ''0.001) in adipose tissue from calves suckling cows fed linoleate compared with calves suckling cows fed control and oleate. Calves suckling cows fed oleate had greater (P ''0.001) percentages of 18:1trans-9, 18:1trans-10, and 18:1cis-9 in adipose tissue than calves suckling cows fed control or linoleate. Calf plasma and adipose tissue fatty acid profiles were reflective of milk fatty acids. Because fatty acids play an important role in metabolic regulatory functions, changes in milk fatty acid profile should be considered when beef cows are fed lipid supplements.