Advances in Metabolic Challenges and Nutrition Research in Dairy Cows

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 October 2022) | Viewed by 10703

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Section for Ruminants, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: metabolism; production diseases; ruminants; diagnostics
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Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, 113 Central, Milk Testing Laboratory, Apple Lane, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Interests: ruminant nutrition; small ruminant nutrition; production medicine; metabolic disease; transition metabolism and physiology; nutritional diagnostics; trace mineral metabolism; nutrition reproduction interaction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past decade, high-throughput technologies such as metabolomics have become increasingly popular and widespread. They have enabled new insights into high-performing dairy cows with the discovery of new biomarkers. Sustaining high milk yield requires a more detailed knowledge of animal pathophysiology and finetuning of animal nutrition. High-performing dairy cows are under tremendous metabolic stress, especially in early lactation, as currently one-third develop at least one clinical disease (metabolic and/or infectious) and more than half develop at least one subclinical disease within the first 90 days of lactation. This requires early detection of any deviations in dairy cow metabolism or welfare so that action can be taken before they impact animal health or production.

Metabolomic technologies also allow for the analysis of large numbers of samples to conduct epidemiological studies, which are becoming an essential aspect of many studies on dairy cow production disease etiology, nutrition, management planning, and welfare monitoring. New metabolite profile patterns can be established, providing a more holistic approach to the physiological state being studied, as well as a deeper knowledge of specific biochemical processes.

However, many challenges remain, such as circadian variations, selection of the best matrices and metabolomics platforms, validation of assays, reliability and reproducibility of metabolite measurements, identification of biological metabolic pathways, replication of measurements in different populations, complex statistical data analysis, accurate interpretation, integration into precision livestock farming, and more.

This Special Issue will examine metabolic events associated with the pathophysiological conditions of transition dairy cows and metabolite assessment relative to disease risk. The early detection of metabolite deviations in dairy cow metabolism or welfare is of interest in order to provide proactive nutritional management and minimize adverse impacts on animal health or production. Of interest beyond individual metabolites or metabolite profiles is the application of metabolomics to improve understanding around complex metabolic interrelationships of the transition dairy cow. The specifics and challenges of the transition cow and highly productive cow metabolism and nutrition in the context of metabolic challenges of high milk production are addressed in this Special Issue.

Assoc. Prof. Jože Starič
Prof. Dr. Robert J. Van Saun
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • metabolic stress
  • dairy cow
  • metabolome
  • nutrition
  • biomarkers
  • metabolic profile

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1106 KiB  
Article
Dietary Supplementation of Chestnut Tannins in Prepartum Dairy Cows Improves Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms Interacting with Thyroid Status
by Radiša Prodanović, Sreten Nedić, Ivan Vujanac, Jovan Bojkovski, Svetlana Nedić, Ljubomir Jovanović, Danijela Kirovski and Sunčica Borozan
Metabolites 2023, 13(3), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo13030334 - 24 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2291
Abstract
Cows in the peripartal period undergo changes in thyroid hormones and are susceptible to lipomobilization and/or oxidative stress. The addition of chestnut tannins as polyphenolic compounds in the diet may improve feed efficiency and prevent oxidative stress-related health disorders in transition cows. However, [...] Read more.
Cows in the peripartal period undergo changes in thyroid hormones and are susceptible to lipomobilization and/or oxidative stress. The addition of chestnut tannins as polyphenolic compounds in the diet may improve feed efficiency and prevent oxidative stress-related health disorders in transition cows. However, the relationship between chestnut tannin supplementation and thyroid function, which plays an important role in metabolic regulation, has not been investigated in dairy cows. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chestnut tannin supplementation during the close-up period on thyroid status and to evaluate the interaction between thyroid hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers in prepartum dairy cows. Forty multiparous Holstein cows were fed either a diet containing chestnut tannins (CNTs, n = 20, 1.96 g chestnut tannins/kg feed, dry matter) or a non-supplemented diet (CON, n = 20) during the last 25 ± 2 days of gestation. Blood samples were collected on the first day of study (before chestnut tannin supplementation) and d 5 before parturition to measure hormonal and oxidative stress indices. Serum concentrations of T3 (p = 0.04) and T4 (p = 0.05) were higher in CNT cows than in the CON group on day 5 before parturition. Thyroid status of CNT cows was associated with higher serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC, p < 0.01), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, p = 0.03) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx, p = 0.01), and reduced glutathione concentration (GSH, p = 0.05). Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were lower (p = 0.04) which was associated with lower aspartate aminotransferase (AST, p = 0.02), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, p = 0.01) activities in the CNT than in the CON group. Estradiol and progesterone did not differ between CNT and CON cows. Chestnut tannin supplementation improves antioxidant protection, prevents oxidation-reduction processes, reduces the degree of liver cell membrane damage, and protects thyroid tissue from damage, allowing higher T3 and T4 synthesis. Considering the importance of the thyroid hormone status before parturition, mechanisms of thyroid hormone regulation in CNT-supplemented dairy cows require more detailed investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metabolic Challenges and Nutrition Research in Dairy Cows)
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17 pages, 1220 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Energy Balance, Lipolysis and Ketogenesis on Metabolic Adaptation in Cows Milked Twice and Three Times Daily
by Srđan Krnjaić, Marko Cincović, Radojica Djoković, Branislava Belić, Jožica Ježek and Jože Starič
Metabolites 2022, 12(11), 1090; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12111090 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1908
Abstract
Increasing milk production requires increasing milking frequency (MF) from two times daily (2X) to three (3X) or more. High milk production leads to negative energy balance (NEB) and homeorhesis, characterized by lipolysis, ketogenesis, and endocrinological changes. The relationship among energy balance (EB), lipolysis, [...] Read more.
Increasing milk production requires increasing milking frequency (MF) from two times daily (2X) to three (3X) or more. High milk production leads to negative energy balance (NEB) and homeorhesis, characterized by lipolysis, ketogenesis, and endocrinological changes. The relationship among energy balance (EB), lipolysis, and ketogenesis with endocrine and metabolic parameters in blood of cows milked 2X and 3X daily was studied. Holstein Friesian cows milked 2X (n = 45) and 3X (n = 45) were analyzed, with approximately 50% of cows in each group in positive EB (PEB) and 50% in NEB. After determining EB, blood samples were collected from all cows and blood serum was analyzed for non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose (GLU), cholesterol (CHOL), triglycerides (TGC), total bilirubin (TBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), calcium (Ca), inorganic phosphate (P), total protein (TPROT), albumin (ALB), urea, insulin (INS), T3, T4, and cortisol (CORT), and the RQUICKIBHB index of insulin resistance was calculated. Cows milked 3X in NEB represent a special cluster that partially overlaps with cows milked 2X in NEB and has no contact points with cows in PEB. Cows milked 3X had higher levels of NEFA, BHB, AST, GGT, TBIL, and CORT and lower levels of GLU, Ca, INS, and T4. Cows milked 3X in NEB had higher levels of NEFA, BHB, AST, GGT, TBIL, and CORT and lower levels of GLU, CHOL, TGC, TPROT, P, INS, RQUICKIBHB, and T3 compared with cows milked 2X in NEB and cows in PEB. In cows milked 3X, lipolysis and ketogenesis were much more prominent, and EB levels were lower, implying a pronounced shift in homeorhesis. Metabolic and endocrinology parameters were determined mainly by the values of EB, NEFA, and BHB in cows milked 3X in NEB compared with other categories of cows. The results confirm the peculiarity of metabolic adaptation in cows with increased MF, characterized not only by differences in the concentration of metabolites but also in their interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metabolic Challenges and Nutrition Research in Dairy Cows)
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14 pages, 3809 KiB  
Article
Plasma Metabolomic Analysis Reveals the Relationship between Immune Function and Metabolic Changes in Holstein Peripartum Dairy Cows
by Zhuo Yang, Fang Luo, Guolin Liu, Zhengzhong Luo, Sijia Ma, Hang Gao, Hailong He and Jinzhong Tao
Metabolites 2022, 12(10), 953; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12100953 - 6 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2071
Abstract
Dairy cows undergo dynamic physiological changes from late gestation to early lactation, including metabolic changes and immune dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between immune function and metabolic changes in peripartum dairy cows. Fifteen healthy Holstein dairy cows [...] Read more.
Dairy cows undergo dynamic physiological changes from late gestation to early lactation, including metabolic changes and immune dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between immune function and metabolic changes in peripartum dairy cows. Fifteen healthy Holstein dairy cows were enrolled 14 days prior to parturition, and plasma was collected on day −7, 0, 7, and 21 relative to calving. Plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), glucose, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-2 levels were measured, and metabolic profiles were determined using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The data were analyzed using Tukey–Kramer adjustment for multiple comparisons, and multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were performed to screen for differential metabolites. The results showed that the concentrations of NEFAs, glucose, BHBA, and TNF-α in the plasma significantly increased and concentrations of IgG and interleukin-2 in plasma significantly decreased from −7 d to the calving day (p < 0.05). Additionally, the concentrations of glucose, IgG, and TNF-α significantly decreased from 0 to +7 d, and concentrations of NEFAs decreased significantly from +7 to +21 d (p < 0.05). The following six primary metabolic pathways were identified in all time point comparisons, and L-glutamate, linoleic acid, taurine, and L-tryptophan were involved in these major metabolic pathways. Correlation and pathway analyses indicated that a negative energy balance during the transition period adversely affects immune responses in cows, and L-tryptophan exerts immunomodulatory effects through the Trp-Kyn pathway, resulting in depletion of Trp and elevation of Kyn. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metabolic Challenges and Nutrition Research in Dairy Cows)
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14 pages, 1684 KiB  
Article
Relationships between Milk and Blood Biochemical Parameters and Metabolic Status in Dairy Cows during Lactation
by Biljana Andjelić, Radojica Djoković, Marko Cincović, Snežana Bogosavljević-Bošković, Milun Petrović, Jelena Mladenović and Aleksandar Čukić
Metabolites 2022, 12(8), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12080733 - 9 Aug 2022
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 3388
Abstract
This study aimed to determine blood and milk metabolic parameters and their correlations for the purpose of evaluating metabolic status in dairy cows. Blood and milk samples were collected from 100 Holstein dairy cows during morning milking. The cows were allocated to four [...] Read more.
This study aimed to determine blood and milk metabolic parameters and their correlations for the purpose of evaluating metabolic status in dairy cows. Blood and milk samples were collected from 100 Holstein dairy cows during morning milking. The cows were allocated to four groups according to the production period, including cows in early (n = 18), full (n = 26), mid (n = 25) and late (n = 31) lactation. The value of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TChol), total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, urea, total bilirubin (TBil), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and lactate dexydrogenase (LDH) in the blood were determined. The following milk parameters were measured: fat, protein, lactose, urea, AST, ALT, ALP, GGT, LDH and BHB. Blood serum NEFA, BHB, TBil, AST, ALT, ALP and LDH were higher in early lactation cows, whereas glucose, TP, globulin and urea levels were significantly lower in early lactation cows. Milk fat and lactose levels were lower in early lactation cows, whereas milk protein and the activities of AST, ALT, ALP and LDH in milk were highly greater in early lactation cows. Milk fat was positively correlated with glucose, TP and TG, and negatively correlated with BHB, NEFA, TBil, ALT, LDH and ALP levels in the blood. Enzyme activities in milk were positively correlated with those in blood and with blood NEFA, BHB and TBil levels, and negatively correlated with blood glucose, TChol and TG. A significant positive correlation existed between blood and milk BHB values. Many correlations showed the same slope during all lactation periods. In conclusion, similar changes in blood and milk metabolite concentration during lactation and milk to blood correlations confirm that milk has great potential in predicting of blood metabolites and metabolic status of cows. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metabolic Challenges and Nutrition Research in Dairy Cows)
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