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Fish meal supplementation alters uterine prostaglandin F₂ synthesis in beef heifers with low luteal-phase progesterone^1,2

N. E. Wamsley^*, P. D. Burns^,3, T. E. Engle^* and R. M. Enns^*

^* Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523; and and Department of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley 80639

³ Correspondence: 2536 Biological Sciences (phone: 970-351-2695; fax: 970-351-2335; e-mail: patrick.burns{at}unco.edu).

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of -3 fatty acids in fish meal on mitigating uterine PGF₂ synthesis in heifers with low luteal-phase concentrations of progesterone. Animals were individually fed a corn silage-based diet supplemented with fish meal (5% of DMI; n = 12) or corn gluten meal (6% of DMI; n = 13). Estrous cycles were synchronized using PGF₂ beginning on d 25 of supplementation. Random heifers from each supplement group (n = 6 fish meal, and n = 7 corn gluten meal) were given three additional i.m. injections of PGF₂ (25 mg) at 12-h intervals beginning at 0600 on d 3 after estrus to induce formation of corpora lutea that secrete lower concentrations of progesterone. Jugular blood samples were collected daily commencing on d 1 and continuing through d 16 of the estrous cycle to determine serum progesterone concentrations. Oxytocin was administered i.v. (100 IU) to heifers on d 16 after estrus to stimulate uterine PGF₂ synthesis. Before statistical analyses, heifers were sorted to either normal or low luteal-phase progesterone as determined from serum progesterone on d 9 of the estrous cycle. After sorting, treatment groups consisted of 1) normal luteal progesterone + fish meal (n = 6); 2) low luteal progesterone + fish meal (n = 6); 3) normal luteal progesterone + corn gluten meal (n = 6); and 4) low luteal progesterone + corn gluten meal (n = 7). Serum concentrations of the PGF₂ metabolite following oxytocin stimulation tended (P = 0.09) to be greater in heifers with low luteal-phase progesterone compared with heifers with normal luteal-phase progesterone. Fish meal supplementation mitigated this response in heifers with low luteal-phase progesterone (P < 0.05), but had no effect on heifers with normal luteal-phase progesterone. In conclusion, the -3 fatty acids in fish meal seem to decrease uterine PGF₂ synthesis in heifers with low luteal-phase serum concentrations of progesterone.

Key Words: Fish Meal • Heifers • Progesterone • Prostaglandin

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