Impact of dietary supplementation of beef cows with rumen-protected methionine during the periconceptional period on prenatal growth and performance to weaning.

Changes in maternal nutrition during the periconceptional period can influence postnatal growth in cattle. This study aimed to identify the impact of supplementing beef cows with rumen-protected methionine (RP-Met) during the periconceptional period on their female progeny. In exp 1, plasma methionine (Met) levels were analyzed in samples from 10 Angus crossbred, non-lactating beef cows.

Seasonal environmental fluctuations alter the transcriptome dynamics of oocytes and granulosa cells in beef cows.

Background: Examining the mechanistic cellular responses to heat stress could aid in addressing the increasing prevalence of decreased fertility due to elevated ambient temperatures. Here, we aimed to study the differential responses of oocytes and granulosa cells to thermal fluctuations due to seasonal differences. Dry beef cows (n = 10) were housed together, synchronized and subjected to a stimulation protocol to induce follicular growth before ovum pick-up (OPU).

Plasma cell-free DNA concentration increases during luteolysis in beef cows.

During cell death, DNA is fragmented and reaches the bloodstream in the form of cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Luteal cells must undergo an apoptotic process during structural luteolysis to begin a new oestrous cycle. We hypothesized that cfDNA concentrations would increase when inducing luteolysis by applying prostaglandin F (PGF2α) analog to the cycling cow.