Journal of Agriculture & Life Sciences

A Lipidomic Approach Reveals Colostrum and Milk Biomarkers Predictive of Production-Related Metabolic Disease in Dairy Cows
Huan Kang, Kory K. Brown, Steven W. Graves, Chris Y. Lau, Swati Anand, Beverly L. Roeder, Holly M. Martin, Austin C. Cook, Evan M. Buckmiller, Dennis L. Eggett

Abstract
Production-related metabolic diseases (PRMDs) are debilitating disorders in dairy cows during early lactation. PRMDs might be prevented if at-risk animals could be identified. Our study sought predictive PRMD biomarkers in colostrums or milk from dairy cows. Colostrums and postpartum day 4 milk were collected from asymptomatic cows and heifers. Animals developing PRMD were frequency matched with controls of similar calving date, age, and parity. Lipids were extracted from specimens and analyzed by a global lipidomics approach that employed electrospray-ionization, time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Peak abundance was analyzed statistically and quantitatively different lipid species were modeled into panels. Many lipids were significantly different between groups. A panel of 3 colostrums biomarkers predicted PRMDs with 90.0% sensitivity at 86.4% specificity. Similar results were obtained for milk or combinations of colostrums plus milk biomarkers. One group of triacylglycerol’s were profoundly changed in PRMD specimens. The results suggest easily obtained, novel lipid biomarkers predict future PRMDs.

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