Broad phenotypic impact of the effects of transgenerational heat stress in dairy cattle: a study of four consecutive generations

BACKGROUND: Global warming has increased the frequency of heat stress in livestock. Although heat stress directly leads to negative effects on production and reproduction traits in dairy cattle, the transgenerational transition of these changes is poorly understood. We hypothesized that heat stress in pregnant cows might induce epigenetic modifications in the developing embryo germ cells, which, in turn, might lead to phenotypic effects in the offspring. Here, we examined whether transgenerational effects of heat stress contribute to the phenotypic expression of economic traits in Israel dairy cattle. Since heat stress in Israel occurs specifically between June and October, first we examined the association of the month of birth of F(1) cows (pregnancy of the F(0) dam) with the performance of the F(2) and F(3) female offspring. Then, we calculated an annual heat stress index and examined the association of the heat stress index during the pregnancy of the F(0) dam with the performance of her F(2) and F(3) offspring. Finally, we examined intergenerational interactions of heat stress by comparing the performance of F(3) cows according to the pregnancy seasons of the F(0) and F(1) animals. RESULTS: We found a significant association of the month of birth, season of pregnancy, and heat stress index of F(0) females, with the performance of their F(2) and F(3) progenies, which suggests a true transgenerational effect. The most significant transgenerational effects were on fat yield and concentration, dystocia, still-birth, and maturation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that heat stress during pregnancy affects the performance of offspring, regardless of life circumstances in at least the last three generations. Therefore, heat stress can reduce selection efficiency in breeding programs and may have economic significance in livestock.