Defining Fatty Acid Changes Linked to Rumen Development, Weaning and Growth in Holstein-Friesian Heifers

Abstract

After birth, as effectively monogastric animals, calves undergo substantial physiological changes to become ruminants by 3 months of age and reach sexual maturity at approximately 15 months of age. Herein, we assess longitudinal metabolomic changes in Holstein-Friesian (HF) heifers from birth until sexual maturity during this developmental process. Sera from 20 healthy, HF heifers were sampled biweekly from 2 weeks of age until 13 months of age and then monthly until 19 months of age. Sera were assessed using flow infusion electrospray high-resolution mass spectrometry (FIE-HRMS) on a Q Exactive hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometer for high-throughput, sensitive, non-targeted metabolite fingerprinting. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) of the derived metabolomes indicated changes detectable in heifers’ sera over time. Time series analyses identified 30 metabolites that could be related to rumen development and weaning at ~3 months of age. Further time series analysis identified 40 metabolites that could be correlated with growth. These findings highlight the role of acetic acid and 3-phenylpropionate (3-PP) in rumen development and growth, suggest that weaning induces elevated levels of fatty acyls in response to a post-weaning stress-induced innate immune response and demonstrate the utilization of fatty acyls in growth. The identified metabolites offer serum metabolites which could inform the nutrition and healthy development of heifers.

Metabolomic Analysis of Multiple Biological Specimens (Feces, Serum, and Urine) by 1H-NMR Spectroscopy from Dairy Cows with Clinical Mastitis

“…Studies supplying varying levels of grain to lactating dairy cows reported positive correlations between acetate and 3-phenylpropionate and rumen pH. Interestingly, acetate and 3-phenylpropionate were correlated with liveweight [69]. Lower levels of 3-phenylpropionate in dairy cows with mastitis may suggest that not only gut microbiota, but also the rumen environment, in particular pH, could be altered by clinical mastitis.…”

Metabolic changes before and after weaning in Dezhou donkey foals in relation to gut microbiota

“…Weaning is an essential stage of growth and development and has a significant effect on serum metabolites (Taylor et al, 2022). PCA was performed to evaluate serum metabolism changes in different stages before and postweaning.…”

A Preliminary Study of the Potential Molecular Mechanisms of Individual Growth and Rumen Development in Calves with Different Feeding Patterns

“…In recent years, more and more studies have explored the metabolic differences of calves based on metabolomics [17][18][19]. A few papers identified serum metabolites associated with calf nutrition and healthy development [20].…”