Metabolomic fingerprinting of milk fever cows: Pre‐ and postpartum metabolite alterations

Abstract Background Milk fever (MF), a metabolic disorder in dairy cows characterized by low blood calcium concentrations postpartum, is well‐recognized clinically. However, comprehensive data on the alteration of metabolites associated with this condition remains sparse. Hypothesis Delineate serum metabolite profiles and metabolic pathways preceding, coinciding with, and after the onset of MF. Animals Twenty‐six cows, including 20 healthy cows and 6 cows initially affected by MF. Because of culling, the number of MF‐affected cows decreased to 4 at MF week, +4 weeks, and +8 weeks postpartum. Methods A nested case‐control longitudinal study was conducted, with blood samples collected at −8 and −4 weeks prepartum, MF week, and +4 and +8 weeks postpartum. Serum analysis utilized direct injection/liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (DI/LC/MS/MS) techniques. Results Key findings included the identification of diverse metabolites such as hexose, amino acids, phosphatidylcholines, lysophosphatidylcholines, and sphingomyelin, which varied between studied groups (P