Omics & gene networks

Effect of creep-feeding supplementation during the suckling phase on the muscle proteome of Nellore males at finishing phase

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Abstract

Creep feeding is a nutritional strategy used to supplement calves during the pre-weaning period, with the goal of enhancing weight gain and muscle tissue development. Additionally, this strategy can impact finishing traits, including carcass weight and yield. However, the molecular mechanisms associated with supplementation during this phase and the changes observed in muscle at slaughter are still unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate differences in the Longissimus thoracis muscle proteome of Nellore males at finishing phase that received or did not receive creep supplementation from day 40 to weaning. A total of 30 Nellore calves were used in this study. Fifteen calves were weaned at 240 days of age and received creep feeding at 5 g/kg of BW from day 40 to day 240 (CF group), while the remaining 15 calves were weaned at 240 days without creep feeding and received only mineral supplementation (NCF group). After weaning, all animals were reared on pasture with energetic protein supplement at 10 g/kg BW per animal/day, and during the finishing phase they received ad libitum concentrate supplementation. The CF group showed a higher hot carcass weight at the end of the experiment (335 kg vs. 321 kg; P = 0.014) compared with the NCF group. Muscle samples were collected at the end of the finishing phase, and a subset of 16 samples (8 CF and 8 NCF) were used for proteomic analysis by LC-MS/MS. Label-free identification and quantification were performed using the FragPipe pipeline. Proteins with signal intensity ratios ≥ 1.5 or ≤ 0.67 (P < 0.05) were considered differentially abundant, which were used to functional enrichment analyses using the DAVID tool (P < 0.05). Seventy-one differentially abundant proteins were identified between the two experimental groups, of which 51 and 20 proteins were significantly increased in muscle samples of the CF and NCF groups, respectively. Functional enrichment analyses revealed several significant pathways associated with muscle growth and development, energy metabolism, stress resistance, protein synthesis, immune response, homeostasis. The results obtained in this study indicate that creep supplementation may have modulated important pathways associated with protein synthesis and muscle growth (mTOR), energy metabolism, and immune response. In this context, nutritional supplementation during the pre-weaning phase with creep feeding may have lasting effects on muscle metabolism through the finishing phase, resulting in greater muscle deposition and higher hot carcass weight, thereby increasing productive efficiency. From a practical perspective, this nutritionally driven molecular remodeling is reflected in the additional gain of approximately 14 kg in hot carcass weight, indicating greater efficiency by increasing meat productivity per animal, with potential to dilute production costs and contribute to sustainability.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Pereira, L., David, G., Domingos, B., Abreu, M., Assunção, R., Resende, F., Siqueira, G., Lourenco, D., Paz, C. & Stafuzza, N., (2026) “Effect of creep-feeding supplementation during the suckling phase on the muscle proteome of Nellore males at finishing phase”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2283907. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.23534

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