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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Nutrition, Growth and Physiology » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339984
Title: Nutritional programming of reproductive development in heifers

Author
item Cushman, Robert - Bob

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/28/2017
Publication Date: 5/15/2017
Citation: Cushman, R.A. 2017. Nutritional programming of reproductive development in heifers. In: Proceedings of the XLV Uruguayan Buiatric Congress, June 8-9, 2017, Paysandu, Uruguay. p. 57-61.

Interpretive Summary: Developmental programming is the biological process by which environmental factors influence the development of the organs and tissues in the body. There are two areas of developmental programming being investigated with applicability to beef production systems to improve performance of replacement heifers. Fetal programming encompasses the area of developmental programming that influences the quality of the gametes or the development of the embryo/fetus and impacts performance of the progeny of the target individual. Nutritional programming encompasses the area of developmental programming that directly influences the individual during the first year of life and impacts their subsequent performance. While there are other environmental triggers that stimulate developmental programming, most researchers believe that nutritional interventions are the ones that will be most readily adaptable to beef production systems to improve performance of replacement heifers.

Technical Abstract: Developmental programming is the biological process by which environmental factors influence the development of the organs and tissues in the body. There are two areas of developmental programming being investigated with applicability to beef production systems to improve performance of replacement heifers. Fetal programming encompasses the area of developmental programming that influences the quality of the gametes or the development of the embryo/fetus and impacts performance of the progeny of the target individual. Nutritional programming encompasses the area of developmental programming that directly influences the individual during the first year of life and impacts their subsequent performance. While there are other environmental triggers that stimulate developmental programming, most researchers believe that nutritional interventions are the ones that will be most readily adaptable to beef production systems to improve performance of replacement heifers.