<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> We evaluated the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists on the differentiation and metabolic features of bovine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells induced to adipogenic or myogenic lineages. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Cells isolated from 7-day-old calves were cultured in basal medium (BM). For adipogenic differentiation, cells were cultured for one passage in BM and then transferred to a medium supplemented with either rosiglitazone, telmisartan, sirtinol or conjugated c-9, t-11 linoleic acid; for myogenic differentiation, third-passage cells were added with either bezafibrate, telmisartan or sirtinol. The expression of <i>PPARγ</i> (an adipogenic differentiation marker), myosin heavy chain (<i>MyHC</i>; a myogenic differentiation marker) and genes related to energy metabolism were measured by quantitative real-time PCR in a completely randomized design. <b><i>Results:</i></b> For adipogenic differentiation, 20 µ<smlcap>M</smlcap> telmisartan showed the highest <i>PPARγ</i> expression (15.58 ± 0.62-fold, p < 0.0001), and differences in the expression of energy metabolism-related genes were found for hexokinase II, phosphofructokinase, adipose triglyceride lipase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase α<i>(ACACα) </i>and fatty acid synthase (p < 0.001), but not for <i>ACACβ</i> (p = 0.4275). For myogenic differentiation, 200 µ<smlcap>M</smlcap> bezafibrate showed the highest <i>MyHC</i> expression (73.98 ± 11.79-fold), and differences in the expression of all energy metabolism-related genes were found (p < 0.05). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Adipocyte and myocyte differentiation are enhanced with telmisartan and bezafibrate, respectively, and energy uptake, storage and mobilization are improved with both.