Low periconception and first trimester dietary protein affects development of immune functionin beef calves

摘要

Implications Low protein during the periconception period in heifers may reduce immune function in calvesIntroduction Neonatal deaths in British suckler herds are surprisingly high at 8%, costing UK farmers E60 million perannum. A combination of dystocia, maternal diet during pregnancy and highly muscled genotypes have all increasedsusceptibility to cold stress and hence disease in the newborn. Passive immunity transferred via colostrum is affected bymaternal nutrition[1]. Concomitantly, we have shown that foetal developmental is affected by the periconception (-60days)and first trimester of pregnancy (90 days) maternal diet[2,3]. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects ofmaternal dietary protein during this period on colostrum quality and foetal immune development.