MITIGATING HEAT STRESS IN GRAZING BOS INDICUS-INFLUENCED BEEF CATTLE IN TROPICAL/SUBTROPICAL ENVIRONMENTS

Objective 1 - Identify top circulating metabolites of pregnant beef cows during heat stress abatement that predict postpartum cow and calf performance. The working hypothesis is that prepartum body weight gain and plasma metabolome of pregnant cows will differ when provided or not long-term access to heat abatement during gestation and lead to positive carryover effects on post-partum cow and calf performance.Objective 2 - Combine gestational and post-weaning heat stress abatement to alter calf muscle transcriptomics and blood metabolomics and promote their growth, immune function, and reproduction. The working hypothesis is that access to heat abatement during post-weaning phase will magnify the changes on calf muscle transcriptome, plasma metabolome, growth, immune response and reproduction previously programmed by gestational heat abatement exposure.