The Early Methionine Supplementation of Ewe Lambs (F0) Modifies Meat Quality Traits of the Progeny (F1, Male Fattening Lambs)

Abstract

Adequate management of replacement ewe lambs (F0) in dairy sheep farms during postnatal life may modify the germline cells, thus promoting transmission of intergenerational effects to the offspring (F1). To test this hypothesis, 18 newborn male lambs (F1), either born from methionine-supplemented ewe lambs (F0 ewe lambs being fed ad libitum with a milk replacer supplemented with 1 g methionine/kg DM) or not supplemented (F0 ewe lambs being fed ad libitum with the same milk replacer with no methionine added), were included in the present study. All the male F1 lambs were managed exactly in the same way along the whole lifespan in order to bring out the differences caused by methionine supplementation of F0 dams. Our data show that the methionine supplementation of dams (F0) during the suckling period did not promote significant (p > 0.05) changes on feed intake, growth rate, or feed efficiency of F1 male lambs during the fattening period. Moreover, the meat chemical composition (proximal, fatty acid profile, and volatile compounds) was similar for both groups (p > 0.05), but the meat of F1-MET lambs presented higher redness and hardness (p < 0.05) when compared to F1-CTRL lambs. The biochemical profile also highlighted significant (p < 0.05) differences in the serum creatinine and calcium content that may be at least partially related to the meat quality traits observed. Overall, all these results suggest that methionine supplementation of lambs (F0) during early postnatal life causes permanent changes in the offspring. This has positive effects, such as achieving a more attractive color of lamb meat (F1) for consumers, and negative effects, such as reduced meat tenderness.

Keywords: feed efficiency; methionine; nutritional programming; postnatal oogenesis; tenderness.