Changes of Plasma Fatty Acids in Four Lipid Classes to Understand Energy Metabolism at Different Levels of Non-Esterified Fatty Acid (NEFA) in Dairy Cows

• Published in: Animals (Basel) Vol. 10; no. 8; p. 1410
• Main Authors: Tessari, Rossella, Berlanda, Michele, Morgante, Massimo, Badon, Tamara, Gianesella, Matteo, Mazzotta, Elisa, Contiero, Barbara, Fiore, Enrico
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.08.2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Animal husbandry; Animal lactation; Animals; Biomarkers; Breeding; Cholesterol; Chromatography; Dairy cattle; Energy; Energy demand; Energy metabolism; Esterification; Esters; Fatty acids; Gas chromatography; Health aspects; hyperketonemia; Ketones; Lactation; lipid class; Lipids; Metabolic disorders; Metabolism; Metabolites; Milk production; NMR; non-esterified fatty acid; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Phospholipids; Plasma; Software; Statistical analysis; Thin layer chromatography; transition period; Triglycerides; β-hydroxybutyrate; Italy; United Kingdom > UK; Belgium; United States > US
• ISSN: 2076-2615; 2076-2615
• DOI: 10.3390/ani10081410

The transition period is a central moment in dairy cows breeding because metabolic disorders may occur in relation to a dramatic increase in energy demand. This research aimed to identify new biomarkers for the diagnosis of hyperketonemia in bovine in early lactation phase with different value of plasmatic non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA). The profile of plasma fatty acids (FAs) divided into four lipid classes was evaluated using thin layer chromatography and gas chromatographic techniques (TLC-GC). A group of 60 multiparous Holstein–Friesian dairy cows were recruited in the present study. Blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein and NEFA and the β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) were evaluated. All animals were divided in 2 groups based on NEFA, NEFA0 group had as mean value 0.24 ± 0.12 mEq/L and NEFA1 group had as mean value 0.87 ± 0.23 mEq/L. Plasma FA concentrations were analyzed separately in free fatty acids, cholesterol esters, phospholipids and triglycerides. Six FAs demonstrated a predictive value in the hyperketonemic dairy cows. In the free fatty acid class, the predictive FAs were C14:0 (AUC = 0.77), C18:1 ω 9 (AUC = 0.72), C18:1 ω 7 (AUC = 0.70) and C18:3 ω 3 (AUC = 0.68). In the phospholipids class the predictive parameters were C12:0 (AUC = 0.78) and C8:0 (AUC = 0.73). In cholesterol, esters and triglycerides lipidic classes no FA had a predictive function.