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Animals
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Early Life Nutrition in Ruminants
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Early Life Nutrition in Ruminants

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2022) | Viewed by 7319

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Sameer J. Mabjeesh

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
Interests: high producing ruminants’ nutrition; digestion and absorption; goats’ welfare; taste and aroma additives in ruminants rations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Early nutrition of ruminants is the science that studies the relationship between the intake of nutrients and the life activities of ruminants from birth to puberty. Recent studies indicate that intervention in the early nutrition of ruminants is of great significance for later growth, development, production, and reproduction. Especially, the time around weaning is a critical period during which developmental plasticity, especially the rumen flora, is profoundly affected, with long-term consequences. Although the influence of early-life nutrition on long-term reproductive and carcass quality has been alluded to in many reviews, substantive evidence that this has a pronounced role, together with the primary biological mechanisms, remains elusive. This Special Issue aims to provide a key breakthrough to test whether nutritional interventions in early life can boost animals’ productivity and adaptability to nutritional challenges later in life. We welcome authors to submit their review and research manuscripts concerning the survival and growth of young ruminants. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, early nutrition management, the effect of fermentation by-products on GIT development, the early establishment of gut microflora, early immunity in ruminants, and the effect of nutrients on gut gene expression and function.

Dr. Sameer J. Mabjeesh
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • calf
  • lamb
  • young ruminants
  • early nutrition management
  • feed additives
  • gut health
  • gut microbiota
  • early immunity

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 597 KiB  
Article
Preweaning Nutrition and Its Effects on the Growth, Immune Competence and Metabolic Characteristics of the Dairy Calf
by Emma M. Ockenden, Victoria M. Russo, Brian J. Leury, Khageswor Giri and William J. Wales
Animals 2023, 13(5), 829; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13050829 - 24 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1808
Abstract
Feeding increased volumes of milk in the preweaning phase has been shown to improve growth, morbidity and mortality rates in calves (Bos Taurus). This experiment enlisted 20 Holstein-Friesian dairy replacement calves from birth until weaning (at 10 weeks of age) and [...] Read more.
Feeding increased volumes of milk in the preweaning phase has been shown to improve growth, morbidity and mortality rates in calves (Bos Taurus). This experiment enlisted 20 Holstein-Friesian dairy replacement calves from birth until weaning (at 10 weeks of age) and assessed the effect of feeding either 4 L (Low) or 8 L (High) of milk per calf per day on their growth, immune competence and metabolic characteristics. The responsiveness of these systems was compared through a vaccination immune challenge. Calves in the High treatment group were significantly heavier from two weeks of age and were 19 kg heavier than calves in the Low treatment group at weaning. Calves in the High treatment group also exhibited greater immune responses, with significantly higher white cell counts and neutrophil counts than calves in the Low treatment group post-vaccination. Calves in the High treatment group also had lower beta-hydroxybutyrate both pre- and post-vaccination, and higher glucose and insulin levels post-vaccination, indicating superior metabolic characteristics. Calves had ad libitum access to lucerne hay (Medicago sativa) and a commercial concentrate. Solid feed intakes were mostly the same between treatments, with differences in hay intake only detected at 7 and 8 weeks of age. Results from this experiment are indicative of a positive influence of accelerated preweaning nutrition on growth, immune response and metabolic characteristics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Life Nutrition in Ruminants)
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15 pages, 1132 KiB  
Article
Periconceptual Maternal Nutrition Affects Fetal Liver Programming of Energy- and Lipid-Related Genes
by Wellison J. S. Diniz, Alison K. Ward, Kacie L. McCarthy, Cierrah J. Kassetas, Friederike Baumgaertner, Lawrence P. Reynolds, Pawel P. Borowicz, Kevin K. Sedivec, James D. Kirsch, Sheri T. Dorsam, Tammi L. Neville, J. Chris Forcherio, Ronald Scott, Joel S. Caton and Carl R. Dahlen
Animals 2023, 13(4), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040600 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1988
Abstract
During pregnancy, the fetus relies on the dam for its nutrient supply. Nutritional stimuli during fetal organ development can program hepatic metabolism and function. Herein, we investigated the role of vitamin and mineral supplementation (VTM or NoVTM—at least 71 days pre-breeding to day [...] Read more.
During pregnancy, the fetus relies on the dam for its nutrient supply. Nutritional stimuli during fetal organ development can program hepatic metabolism and function. Herein, we investigated the role of vitamin and mineral supplementation (VTM or NoVTM—at least 71 days pre-breeding to day 83 of gestation) and rate of weight gain (low (LG) or moderate (MG)—from breeding to day 83) on the fetal liver transcriptome and the underlying biological pathways. Crossbred Angus beef heifers (n = 35) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design (VTM_LG, VTM_MG, NoVTM_LG, and NoVTM_MG). Gene expression was measured with RNA-Seq in fetal livers collected on day 83 ± 0.27 of gestation. Our results show that vitamin and mineral supplementation and rate of weight gain led to the differential expression of hepatic genes in all treatments. We identified 591 unique differentially expressed genes across all six VTM-gain contrasts (FDR ≤ 0.1). Over-represented pathways were related to energy metabolism, including PPAR and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, as well as lipid metabolism, mineral transport, and amino acid transport. Our findings suggest that periconceptual maternal nutrition affects fetal hepatic function through altered expression of energy- and lipid-related genes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Life Nutrition in Ruminants)
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13 pages, 303 KiB  
Article
Effects of Iron Supplementation on Metabolism in Calves Receiving Whole Milk
by Anna Budny-Walczak, Kinga Śpitalniak-Bajerska, Marek Szołtysik, Krystyna Pogoda-Sewerniak and Robert Kupczyński
Animals 2023, 13(3), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030477 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1431
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding a protein–iron complex (PIC) to calves. Specifically, the aim was to understand how it influences productive performance and indicators of iron metabolism, hematology and biochemical and parameters during feeding with whole [...] Read more.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding a protein–iron complex (PIC) to calves. Specifically, the aim was to understand how it influences productive performance and indicators of iron metabolism, hematology and biochemical and parameters during feeding with whole milk before weaning. The study was carried out on 20 Polish Holstein Friesian calves. The calves were then divided into a control group (CON), fed with full milk (n = 10), and an experimental group (MFe), who received a PIC additive in milk at 16 g/day (n = 10). In order to determine the production parameters, the calves were weighed at the beginning (i.e., on the 7th day of life) and at the end of the experiment (42nd day of life) using an electronic platform scale. Production parameters such as average weight gain (AWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and growth rate (GR) were assessed. Blood was collected from an external jugular vein (vena jugularis externa) on the 7th, 14th, 28th, and 42nd days of life. The mean daily gains in body weight (ADG), growth rate (GR), and the feed conversion ratio were highest in the experimental group, MFe. Therefore, it can be concluded that the addition of a protein–iron complex entailed a significant impact on the iron metabolism indicators in the MFe experimental group. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Life Nutrition in Ruminants)
11 pages, 1094 KiB  
Article
Age and Post-Prandial Variations on Selected Metabolites in Dairy Calves Fed Different Liquid Diets
by Amanda Moelemberg Cezar, Sophia Cattleya Dondé, Cristiane Regina Tomaluski, Ana Paula da Silva, Ariany Faria de Toledo, Marina Gavanski Coelho, Gercino Ferreira Virgínio Júnior and Carla Maris Machado Bittar
Animals 2022, 12(21), 3063; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213063 - 7 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1635
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the age and post-prandial variations in selected metabolite concentration that may indicate a shift in metabolism, from pre- to functional ruminant, according to the liquid diet fed to dairy calves. Sixteen newborn Holstein calves were [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the age and post-prandial variations in selected metabolite concentration that may indicate a shift in metabolism, from pre- to functional ruminant, according to the liquid diet fed to dairy calves. Sixteen newborn Holstein calves were included in the study in a randomized complete block experimental design. The calves were individually housed and fed 6 L/d with whole milk (WM) or milk replacer (MR). Blood samples were collected weekly at 0 h (before feeding), 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h after morning feeding to evaluate glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), fructosamine, total protein, and albumin. Calves fed WM had higher performance (p < 0.01) than did calves fed MR. The different liquid diets did not affect the average concentrations of plasma glucose. However, BHB was higher for WM-fed calves (p < 0.01). The concentration of plasma glucose reached the highest concentration at 1 and 4 hours after feeding WM or MR, respectively. Thus, these would be the most appropriate sampling times to study the glycemic status of calves according to the liquid diet fed. Fructosamine did not prove to be an informative metabolite to understand the shift in metabolism, as a function of rumen development, due to a small reduction as a function of age and a sampling time effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Early Life Nutrition in Ruminants)
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