Mechanisms of Nutritional Interventions During Pregnancy in Maternal and Offspring Health in Ruminants

Dear Colleagues,

It is my greatest pleasure to lead this Special Issue titled “Mechanisms of Nutritional Interventions During Pregnancy in Maternal and Offspring Health in Ruminants.” It has been well documented in sheep and cattle that maternal nutrition programs long-term offspring physiology and health by changing organ structure, hormone set-points, and metabolism during critical developmental windows. Nutritional interventions in pregnant ruminants act mainly by altering placental development and function, fetal organogenesis, growth and metabolism, epigenetic programming, passive immune transfer and neonatal gut maturation, thereby shaping the health and performance of their offspring throughout the course of their life.

The scope of this Special Issue will cover submissions focusing on the timing of interventions, placental structure and blood flow, nutrient transport and endocrine signaling, fetal organ development and metabolism, epigenetic mechanisms, specific nutrient interventions, environmental and heat-stress interactions, colostrum quality and the neonatal period. Original research and review articles addressing long-term offspring outcomes associated with any of the above focus areas will be accepted for review and potential publication in this Special Issue.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. John Odhiambo
Guest Editor

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