Epigenetics: setting up lifetime production of beef cows by managing nutrition
1West Central Research and Extension Center, University of Nebraska, North Platte, Nebraska 69101; email: rfunston2@unl.edu ; adamfsummers@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Longevity of cattle is correlated to reproductive success. Many studies in different species report the influence of maternal nutrition on progeny performance, health, and reproduction. Maternal nutrient status can cause epigenetic alterations to the genome of the developing fetus, which potentially can impact future generations. This review discusses fetal programming mechanisms as well as maternal nutrition's impact on placental development and progeny heifer performance and reproduction owing to nutrient restriction, age, or production status. Furthermore, we discuss how early neonatal nutrient intake and type can influence future productivity in the beef and dairy cow. Understanding how these factors influence progeny performance will enable cattlemen to produce replacement females better adapted to their environment through maternal nutrient regulation by stimulating fetal programming.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Epigenetic Regulation
Epigenetic Regulation
X-chromosome...
Epigenetic Regulation
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
The Central Dogma
RNA is the Missing Link Between DNA and Proteins
In the early 1900s, scientists discovered that DNA stores all the information needed for cellular functions and that proteins perform most of these functions. However, the mechanisms of converting genetic information into functional proteins remained unknown for many years. Initially, it was believed that a single gene is...
Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...


