Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between foetal weight and targeted metabolomic profiles of twin foetuses in late gestation to provide insights into metabolic phenotypes associated with differential foetal growth. Archived foetal plasma samples from ewes managed in an outdoor forage-based production system were used for targeted metabolomic profiling where there was divergence in twin foetal weight at 135 days of gestation (4.0 to 6.5 kg; n=40). Pearson correlations between foetal weight and plasma metabolite profiles were determined. There were 7 positive and 4 negative correlations between metabolite profiles and foetal weight (P<0.05). Key metabolic phenotypes that differed between high and low foetal weight included nitric oxide and serotonin signalling, oxidative stress, and the supply of specific amino acids (arginine, lysine, histidine and threonine). These results provide insights into the metabolic pathways important for the regulation of foetal growth and development in late gestation in twin-born lambs.

McCoard, S.A., and Maclean P.

Hamilton, Volume 85, Hamilton, 67-69, 2025