Telomere attrition rates are associated with weather conditions and predict productive lifespan in dairy cattle.

ABSTRACT: Telomere length is predictive of adult health and survival across vertebrate species. However, we currently do not know whether such associations result from among-individual differences in telomere length determined genetically or by early-life environmental conditions, or from differences in the rate of telomere attrition over the course of life that might be affected by environmental conditions. Here, we measured relative leukocyte telomere length (RLTL) multiple times across the entire lifespan of dairy cattle in a research population that is closely monitored for health and milk production and where individuals are predominantly culled in response to health issues. Animals varied in their change in RLTL between subsequent measurements and RLTL shortened more during early life and foll

SUBMITTER: Seeker LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7970942 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature