METHODS FOR INCREASING PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS IN OFFSPRING

Abstract

Provided herein are methods for altering a characteristic of an offspring or a litter. The method can include administering an effective amount of a composition that includes active IGF-1 to a pregnant animal, wherein a characteristic of an offspring of the pregnant animal is altered compared to a control offspring. In another embodiment, the animal is a lactating animal, wherein a characteristic of an offspring nursed by the lactating animal is altered compared to a control offspring. Examples of characteristics that can be altered include increased survival of offspring before weaning, increased weight of offspring at weaning, increased weight of offspring at end of growing phase, increased average daily gain, and increased average daily food intake. In another embodiment, a characteristic of a litter can be altered, such as increased number of offspring born alive, increased litter birth weight, increased offspring birth weight, reduced number of stillborn offspring, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method for altering a characteristic of an offspring, the method comprising: administering an effective amount of a composition to a pregnant animal wherein the composition comprises active IGF-1, wherein a characteristic of an offspring of the pregnant animal is altered compared to a control offspring.

2. (canceled)

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the increased weight of offspring at end of growing phase is selected from weight of living animal, hot carcass weight, and a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the increased body weight of offspring at end of growing phase is the result of increased bone density, increased bone growth, increased muscle growth, increased adipose tissue, increased head growth, increased organ growth, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the increased muscle growth is selected from increased number of muscle fibers, increased length of muscle fibers, and the combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the increased head growth comprises increased brain growth.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the increased organ growth is selected from heart, liver, lungs, stomach, intestines, and a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the IGF-1 administered to the pregnant animal has been subjected to an activation process that increases the amount of active IGF-1.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the IGF-1 administered to the pregnant animal is obtained from a natural source that has been processed to increase the amount of active IGF-1.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the administering further comprises administering inactive IGF-1, wherein at least 20% of the total IGF-1 administered is active IGF-1.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the natural source is blood or a blood-derived product.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the natural source is milk or a milk-derived product.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the natural source is colostrum or a colostrum-derived product.

14. (canceled)

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the administering comprises feeding the pregnant animal a food product comprising the active IGF-1.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the food product is administered throughout the pregnancy.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising administering the food product during lactation following pregnancy.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising administering the food product during estrus.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising administering the food product before estrus.

20. (canceled)

21. A method for altering a characteristic of a litter, the method comprising: administering an effective amount of a composition to a pregnant animal wherein the composition comprises active IGF-1, wherein a characteristic of a litter of the pregnant animal is altered compared to a control litter.

22. (canceled)

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the animal is a pig, wherein the number of piglets having a weight of at least 2.5 pounds at birth is increased.

24.-36. (canceled)

37. A method for altering a characteristic of an offspring, the method comprising: administering an effective amount of a composition to a lactating animal wherein the composition comprises active IGF-1, wherein a characteristic of an offspring nursed by the lactating animal is altered compared to a control offspring nursed by a lactating animal that is not administered the composition.

38.-56. (canceled)

Description

EXAMPLE 1

Effect of a Plasma Product on Fetal Growth and Postnatal Development

Materials and Methods

Animals

[0050] Sows were divided into two groups. The control and treatment groups were 124 sows and 130 sows, respectively. The control group was fed a standard gestation diet, and the treatment group was fed the same standard gestation diet supplemented with a commercial plasma product (BETAGRO, GBH Labs, Maple Grove, Minn.) at 0.1%. After giving birth the control group was fed a standard lactation diet, and the treatment group was fed the same standard lactation diet supplemented with a commercial plasma product (BETAGRO, GBH Labs, Maple Grove, Minn.) at 0.1%.

[0051] At 24 to 36-hours postpartum, piglets were weighed individually and maintained within the appropriate group. Piglets were weighed at the beginning of each phase (see Table 1).

[0052] Mixed sex weanling piglets (1,240, 45% of the total pigs weaned from the sow phase of the trial) were housed on one nursery room containing 46 pens with 26-28 pigs/pen. Pigs were blocked by weaned date and weaning body weight (BW).

[0053] After the nursery phase 600 mixed sex weanling pigs were transferred in intact from their pens in the nursery to the finisher. The pigs were held in growing/finishing pens for 109 days.

[0054] Pigs were slaughtered using standard industry accepted practices. Live body weight was measured immediately before slaughter. After the hide, head, intestinal tract, and internal organs were removed the weight of the unchilled carcass of each animal was measured (hot carcass weight). Other measurements taken using the carcass were Fat-O-Meater (Carometic Food Technology A/S, Seoborg, Denmark) (to determine Fat depth, Loin depth, Yield, and % Carcass lean), and Meat Quality and Primal cuts (100 pigs/group). Loin measurements included Firmness score (1=soft to 5=firm), Yield % and pounds, Color Score (1 light and pale to 5 dark and red), Minolta L*, A*, and B*, Marbling, %, and Ultimate pH. Belly measurements included Yield % and pounds, Length Width and Depth, and Subjective firmness score (0.5=soft to 5=firm). Ham measurements included Yield % and pounds.

Results

Sows

[0055] There were improvements in the number of piglets born alive per litter (13.2 in the control group compared to 13.5 in the treatment group) and pre-weaning mortality (12.8% in the control group compared to 11.4% in the treatment group). In the treatment group there was a 4.3% increase in litter birth weight and a 2.1% increase in birth weight compared to the control group. These changes were not statistically significant but the trends were observed. There was a statistically significant decrease in stillborns in sows in the treatment group (a reduction from 5.37% to 3.57%, P=0.07), but no change in the occurrence of mummies.

[0056] Sows in the treatment group had a significantly reduced percentage of piglets weighing less than 2.5 pounds (33.3% of piglets in the control group were less than 2.5 pounds, while 29.6% of piglets in the treatment group were less than 2.5 pounds, P=0.05). When piglet birth weight was compared, there was an improvement in the treatment group when all litters were compared (a 2.1% increase from 2.89 pounds for the control group compared to 2.95 pounds for the treatment group). When the litters were divided by parity, gilts in the treatment group showed the largest increase (a 9.4% increase from 2.79 pounds to 3.05 pounds).

[0057] There were improvements in pre-weanling mortality (12.8% in control group and 11.4% in treatment group) and in the number of pigs weaned per litter (11.5 in control group and 11.9 in treatment group). These differences were not statistically significant but the trends were observed.

[0058] Sows in the treatment group weaned significantly heavier piglets (12.15 pounds compared to 12.68 pounds, P=0.005).

[0059] Sows in the treatment group had a significantly reduced wean-estrus interval (5.6 days compared to 4.52 days, P<0.05). The percentage of sows in the treatment group with a wean-estrus time of greater than 7 days was significantly reduced (8.1% compared to 3.1 percent, P=0.1).

Nursery Stage

[0060] During the nursery phase piglets in the treatment group showed increases in average daily gain (the average pounds gained per day per period) and the average daily feed intake (average pounds consumed per animal per day) compared to the control group (Table 1). The body weight of piglets in the treatment group at the end of each phase was consistently higher than the piglets in the control group.

[0061] Growing/Finishing Stage

[0062] During the growing/finishing phase, the body weight of piglets in the treatment group at the end of each phase was consistently higher than the piglets in the control group (295.6 pounds compared to 290.1 pounds).

[0063] At the end of the growing/finishing stage pigs in the treatment group showed a significant increase in live body weight of 5.5 pounds (295.6 pounds in the treatment group compared to 290.1 in the control group, P=0.05) (Table 1), and a significant increase in hot carcass weight of 4.4 pounds (218.5 pounds in the treatment group compared to 214.1 pounds in the control group, P=0.07) (Table 2). From these data we infer that the increase in weight of pigs in the treatment group was due to an increase of 1.1 pounds in the head (e.g., brain), organs (e.g., internal organs), or both. In piglets from the treatment group there was a significant improvement in loin color, belly depth, and subjective flop score (Table 3).

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Effects in sow and nursery phase on pig growth performance from weaning to harvest (values are least square means). Control Treatment P-value Nursery Phase No. Pens 11 12 Pigs per pen 26 26 Starting BW, lb 13.02 12.80 0.12 BW end of Phase 4, lb 53.66 56.90 0.001 Overall of Nursery Phase; 54-d ADG, lb 0.75 0.82 <0.001 ADFI, lb 1.10 1.20 <0.001 F:G 1.47 1.46 0.95 Growing-Finishing Phase No. Pens 11 12 Starting BW, lb 75.39 78.65 0.01 BW end of Phase 8, lb 290.1 295.6 0.05 Overall of Growing-Finishing Phase; 109-d ADG, lb 2.04 2.07 0.53 ADFI, lb 5.48 5.65 0.06 F:G 2.69 2.73 0.17 Removal, % Nursery Phase 1.85 1.23 Growing-Finishing Phase 3.45 2.83 BW, Body weight; ADG, Average daily gain (average pounds gained per day period); ADFI, Average daily feed intake (average pounds consumed per animal per day); F:G, feed to gain, also know as feed conversion ratio (measurement of feed efficiency, which equals amount of ADFI/ADG); removal %, percentage of animals removed due to death, poor health or injury.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Effects of feeding supplement in sow phase on carcass characteristics (values are least square means). Control Treatment P-value No. Pens 11 12 Live BW, lb 290.1 295.6 0.05 CV,.sup.1 % 8.63 9.30 Live BW <290 lb, % 50.0 45.6 HCW, lb 214.1 218.5 0.07 CV,.sup.2 % 9.32 9.42 HCW <220 lb, % 62.1 50.7 Carcass Yield, % 73.76 73.92 0.54 Fat Depth, mm 17.43 17.49 0.74 Loin Depth, mm 63.00 64.45 0.27 Carcass Lean, % 55.78 55.93 0.99 .sup.1Coefficient of variation (CV) of live BW was calculated using each individual pig data from four pens per treatment (Control = 104 pigs, Treatment = 103 pigs) .sup.2Coefficient of variation (CV) of HCW was calculated using each individual pig data from 11 or 12 pens per treatment (Control = 272 pigs; Treatment = 288 pigs) BW, body weight; HCW, hot carcass weight.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Effects of feeding supplement in sow phase on quality of primal cuts (values are least square means). Control Treatment P-value Boneless Loin No. Pigs.sup.1 106 106 Weight, lb 8.10 8.26 0.61 CV, % 11.6 11.0 Yield, % of HCW 3.74 3.83 0.77 Color Score - primary.sup.2 3.20 3.24 0.01 Color Score - secondary.sup.2 3.16 3.22 0.01 Marbling, % 1.79 1.71 0.45 Firmness Score.sup.3 2.69 2.64 0.65 Ultimate pH 5.65 5.68 0.26 Minolta L* 44.97 44.51 0.08 Minolta a* 7.96 8.22 0.01 Minolta b* 0.06 0.25 0.14 Primal Ham No. Pigs.sup.1 107 107 Weight, lb 25.7 25.9 0.69 CV, % 9.3 7.5 Yield, % of HCW 11.9 12.0 0.35 Belly No. Pigs.sup.1 105 108 Weight, lb 18.81 18.39 0.91 CV, % 14.8 14.8 Yield, % of HCW 8.65 8.47 0.82 Length, inch 28.67 28.66 0.94 Width, inch 14.35 14.29 0.72 Depth, inch 1.03 0.98 0.10 Subjective Flop Score.sup.4 2.67 2.54 0.07 .sup.1Each individual pig from four pens per treatment were selected for evaluation of primal cuts .sup.2Loin color score: 1 - light and pale; 5 - dark and red (NPPC, 2000) .sup.3Loin firmness score: 1 - soft; 5 = firm (NPPC, 2000) .sup.4Belly subjective flop score: 0.5 = soft; 5 = firm

EXAMPLE 2

[0064] In a second trial at a commercial research swine operation, 200 sows were divided into two groups of 96 (control group) and 104 (treatment group), respectively. The control group was fed a standard gestation diet, and the treatment group was fed the same standard gestation diet supplemented with a commercial plasma product (BETAGRO, GBH Labs, Maple Grove, Minn.). After giving birth the control group was fed a standard lactation diet, and the treatment group was fed the same standard lactation diet supplemented with a commercial plasma product (BETAGRO, GBH Labs, Maple Grove, Minn.) at 2 pounds per ton of standard lactation diet (lbs/ton) then during the nursery with 6 lbs/ton in Phase 1, at 3 lbs/ton during Phase 2, and no supplement in Phase 3 and 4. Piglets were weighed, maintained, transferred from nursery pens to finisher, and slaughtered as described in Example 1.

Results

Sows

[0065] There were improvements in the number of piglets born alive per litter (13.3 in the control group compared to 13.6 in the treatment group) and pre-weaning mortality (9.3% in the control group compared to 8.78% in the treatment group). There was a statistically significant decrease in the occurrence of mummies (a reduction from 6.02% to 3.8%, P=0.1), and a slight increase in the number of stillborns.

[0066] Sows in the treatment group weaned significantly heavier piglets (10.99 pounds compared to 11.57 pounds, P=0.002), produced significantly heavier piglets through the nursery phase (P=0.002), and these piglets ate significantly more feed (P=0.03).

[0067] Sows in the treatment group had a significantly reduced wean-estrus interval (4.83 days compared to 4.51 days, P<0.007). The percentage of sows in the treatment group with a wean-estrus time of greater than 7 days was reduced (3.13% compared to 1.92 percent).

Nursery Stage

[0068] During the nursery phase piglets in the treatment group showed increases in average daily feed intake (average pounds consumed per animal per day) of 1.32 for the control group compared to 1.39 for the treatment group (P=0.30). The body weight of piglets in the treatment group at the end of the nursery phase was higher than the control group (59.5 pounds for the treatment group and 56.46 pounds for the control group, P=0.60). These changes were not statistically significant but the trends were observed.

[0069] The complete disclosure of all patents, patent applications, and publications, and electronically available material cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Supplementary materials referenced in publications (such as supplementary tables, supplementary figures, supplementary materials and methods, and/or supplementary experimental data) are likewise incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that any inconsistency exists between the disclosure of the present application and the disclosure(s) of any document incorporated herein by reference, the disclosure of the present application shall govern. The foregoing detailed description and examples have been given for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact details shown and described, for variations obvious to one skilled in the art will be included within the invention defined by the claims.

[0070] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, molecular weights, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term about. Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

[0071] Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. All numerical values, however, inherently contain a range necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0072] All headings are for the convenience of the reader and should not be used to limit the meaning of the text that follows the heading, unless so specified.