Effects of Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation During Gestation in Beef Heifers on Immunoglobulin Concentrations in Colostrum and Immune Responses in Naturally and Artificially Reared Calves.

Simple Summary: The nutritional management of pregnant females can have lasting impacts on offspring growth, health, and well-being during postnatal life. Providing supplemental vitamins and minerals during pregnancy may influence offspring development and immune function. In two experiments, we investigated the impacts of supplementing vitamins and minerals to pregnant beef heifers on immunological components of maternal colostrum and resultant calf immunoglobulins in serum after consuming maternal colostrum or a colostrum replacement product. Antibody titers in blood from calves were also evaluated in response to receiving vaccinations through weaning. We observed no influence of maternal supplementation on colostral immunoglobulins or calf serum immunoglobulins 24 h after consuming colostrum, but calves receiving colostrum from their dams had greater immunoglobulin concentrations in their serum compared with calves receiving a colostrum replacer. Additionally, calves born to vitamin and mineral supplemented dams had increased titer responses to vaccination at weaning compared with calves born to non-supplemented dams. These data indicate that supplementary vitamins and minerals to gestating beef heifers may be a critical factor in programming offspring immune system development, ensuing animal health, and supporting profitability in beef operations. Two experiments assessed the effects of providing a vitamin and mineral supplement to gestating beef heifers on concentrations of immunoglobulins (Ig) in colostrum and calf serum 24 h after feeding maternal colostrum (Exp. 1) or a colostrum-replacement product (Exp. 2). Angus-based heifers (n = 31, Exp. 1; n = 14, Exp. 2) were fed a basal diet (CON) or were fed a basal diet plus a vitamin and mineral supplement (VTM) from breeding (Exp. 1) or 60 d pre-breeding (Exp. 2) through calving. Colostrum was collected at calving, and serum was collected from calves 24 h after colostrum consumption to evaluate passive transfer. Serum was collected from calves in Exp. 1 to determine serum titers in response to vaccination at birth, pasture turn out, weaning, and 14 d after vaccination. Concentrations of IgG, IgM, or IgA in colostrum or in calf serum at 24 h were not impacted by dam treatment (p ≥ 0.21); however, concentrations of Ig in calf serum at 24 h were greater (p ≤ 0.01) in calves receiving maternal colostrum than those receiving a colostrum replacer. Calves born to VTM heifers had greater antibody titers at birth, pasture turn out, and weaning for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea virus type 2 (BVD-2), and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), respectively. Our results suggest that the programming of immune function in calves via prenatal nutrition appears to extend postnatally in CON and VTM offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]