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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #380674
Research Project: Alleviating Rate Limiting Factors that Compromise Beef Production Efficiency

Location: Livestock and Range Research Laboratory

Title: The effect of melatonin supplementation on dam milking traits and calf performance in beef cattle

Author
item REID, DANA - Mississippi State University
item Geary, Thomas
item Zezeski, Abigail
item Waterman, Richard
item Reil, Mary
item BURNETT, DERRIS - Mississippi State University
item LEMLEY, CALEB - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2021
Publication Date: 5/15/2021
Citation: Reid, D., Geary, T.W., Zezeski, A.L., Waterman, R.C., Reil, M.S., Burnett, D.D., Lemley, C.O. 2021. The effect of melatonin supplementation on dam milking traits and calf performance in beef cattle. American Society of Animal Science Southern Section Meeting. 99:17-18. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab096.029.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab096.029

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Melatonin has been documented to alleviate compromised pregnancies and enhance livestock performance traits. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of melatonin supplementation on milking traits in beef cattle dams and subsequent influence on calf performance. Cows (n= 60) were blocked based on embryo transfer donor and sire, potential calf breed and embryo grade. At day 190, 220 and 250 of gestation, dams were administered either 2 subdermal ear melatonin implants (preMEL) or no implants (preCON). After parturition, calf birth weights were recorded and calves received either melatonin implants (posMEL) or none (posCON) on approximately day 0, 30, and 60. At approximately day 60 of lactation, a subset of dams (n= 32) were selected based on age, weight and calf sex for milk collection and analysis. At weaning, calf weight and morphometric data were collected and adjusted according to weaning age. Prenatal melatonin administration did not change calf birth weight (P = 0.956). Milk yield tended to decrease in the preMEL group (P = 0.054) at 2.368 kg ± 0.11 compared to preCON at 2.054 kg ± 0.11. Milk fat percent tended to decrease (P = 0.07) in preMEL at 3.25 ± 0.19 versus preCON at 3.92 ± 0.19. There were no differences in prenatal treatment in respect to milk protein, lactose, solid non-fats, somatic cell count, and urea nitrogen (P > 0.16). At weaning, calf head circumference decreased (P < 0.031) in the preMEL group at 77.92cm ± 0.42 versus preCON at 79.31cm ± 0.45. Otherwise, there were no prenatal or postnatal treatment differences in respect to weaning weight, crown-rump length, hip height and head length (P > 0.12). Previous studies show crown-to-rump length and ponderal index differences, our lack of differences might be attributed to geographical locations that impact day length or endogenous melatonin status.