Rate of body weight gain during early gestation in F0 beef heifers has effects that extend multigenerationally to the F2 fetuses

Early gestation is a period of rapid development of the placenta and fetal organs. In some species, impacts of nutrition during gestation persist across generations. Thus, adequate nutrition is crucial for the offspring's future productivity and reproductive success. This study aimed to assess the impact of 2 rates of body weight gain (0.20 and 0.75 kg/d) in F0 dams during early gestation on the productive and reproductive outcomes of F1 progeny and the development of F2 fetuses. The results indicate that a moderate rate of body weight gain during early gestation did not affect the development of ovarian follicles in F1 offspring but increased the body weight of F1 heifers in the pre-breeding period and concentrations of blood glucose during gestation. There were tendencies of F0 nutrition to impact placental weight, F2 mammary gland weight, and intestinal mRNA relative abundance, which could have implications on nutrient supply to the developing fetus and on future lactation and metabolism. These findings highlight the complexity of multigenerational interactions in the context of maternal nutrition and provide valuable insights to optimize productivity and reproductive performance in livestock systems.