Breeding animals for quality products: not only genetics.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Animal science
• Epigenetics

Background:

• The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept links early-life environment to later health, recognized by global bodies like the UN and WHO.
• DOHaD principles extend to domestic animals, influencing offspring phenotype and production traits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how maternal nutrition during the periconception and pregnancy periods affects offspring phenotype in domestic animals.
• To explore the role of epigenetic mechanisms in mediating these nutritional effects.
• To assess the potential of studying epigenetic marks in gametes for domestic animal selection.

Main Methods:

• Maternal nutrition interventions during critical reproductive periods.
• Analysis of offspring phenotype and production traits.
• Epigenetic analysis of gametes, embryos, and placental tissues.

Main Results:

• Maternal nutrition, both pre-conception and during pregnancy, significantly influences offspring phenotype.
• Epigenetic modifications in gametes, embryos, and placental function are key mediators of these effects.
• These findings highlight the impact of the early environment on long-term health and productivity.

Conclusions:

• Maternal nutrition is a critical factor in shaping offspring health and production traits in domestic animals.
• Epigenetic mechanisms play a vital role in transmitting environmental information across generations.
• Analyzing epigenetic marks in gametes offers a promising avenue for enhancing selection strategies in animal breeding programs.