Effects of a single trace mineral injection in gestating Brangus cows on growth, physiology, and the liver transcriptomic profile of their offspring

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of a prepartum trace mineral injection (TMI) in Brangus cows on the growth, physiology, and liver transcriptomic profile of their offspring. At 114 days prepartum (day −114), 40 cows [body weight (BW) = 533 ± 55] were assigned to either 1) Saline (saline solution, 0.9% NaCl; n = 20) or 2) TMI (solution containing 60, 10, 5, and 15 mg/ml of Zn, Mn, Se, and Cu, respectively; n = 20) administered subcutaneously (1 ml/90 kg BW in each cow). For the maternal results, the serum total protein concentration was lower ( p = 0.05) on day 1 (24 h postpartum) and day 80 in 0TMI vs . Saline cows. TMI did not affect ( p ≥ 0.11) the BW, body condition score, liver mineral concentration, other serum biochemistry variables, or serum insulin in cows. The offspring results showed that the BW tended to be greater ( p = 0.10) on days 80 and 157 in TMI vs . Saline calves. The serum concentrations of insulin, globulin, total protein, and creatinine were greater ( p ≤ 0.05) on day 1 in TMI vs . Saline calves. Furthermore, the serum albumin and glucose concentrations were greater ( p ≤ 0.05) in TMI vs . Saline calves, independently of the day. Liver genes related to immune response were differentially expressed ( ISG15 , MX1 , HERC6 , and OAS1Y ; p ≤ 0.05) in TMI vs . Saline calves. Thus, prepartum TMI tended to increase BW, affect the circulating metabolite concentrations, and alter the expression of the liver genes associated with the immune system in the offspring.