Relationship between pyrimidines, purines and fatty acids in milk of dairy cows fed distinct carbohydrate types: a metabolomic approach

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate changes in the milk metabolome of dairy cows fed different carbohydrate types from silages and concentrates, with special focus on purines and pyrimidines, likely associated with the microbial activity in the rumen. Furthermore, the relationship between the milk fatty acids and pyrimidine and purine metabolism retrieved in milk was investigated for potential correlations between these 2 groups of potential milk biomarkers. Twenty-four lactating dairy cows were used in a crossover design, where each cow received 2 of 4 diets. Diets were formulated based on a 2 by 2 factorial arrangement, using either grass-clover or corn silage as a forage source, and barley or dried beet pulp in the concentrate fraction. Fatty acids and LC-MS metabolome of the milk were analyzed. The milk metabolome and fatty acid concentration could differentiate the 4 diets used in the trial, while the milk metabolome alone could only differentiate the 2 silage types. Milk odd-chain fatty acids (C17:1 and C17:0) were correlated with pyrimidine and purine derivatives, with uric acid being significantly higher in milk samples associated with corn silage diets. Therefore, the results indicate potential differences in microbial protein synthesis between the diets, but a validation with actual ruminal microbial protein synthesis and investigation in digestive biofluids are necessary for further confirmation.