Abstract #315

# 315
Plasma metabolome profiles in heifer calves at birth and during the preweaning period are altered by supply of methionine during late-pregnancy.
A. Elolimy*1,2, A. Alharthi1,2, E. Abdel-Hamied1,3, C. Parys4, J. Loor1,2, 1Mammalian NutriPhysioGenomics, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 2Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 3Animal Medicine Department, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt, 4Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH, Hanau-Wolfgang, Germany.

Maternal methionine supplementation in pregnant sows increases amino acid content (methionine, tryptophan, and valine) in plasma of piglets which likely helps support better growth performance during the preweaning period. However, the influence of maternal methionine in dairy cows on plasma metabolome of neonatal calves is unknown. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of maternal methionine supply during late-pregnancy in dairy cows on plasma metabolome in neonatal calves, and its association with growth performance during the preweaning period. Heifer calves born to Holstein cows receiving either a control (CON) diet (n = 10) or CON plus rumen-protected methionine (MET; Evonik Nutrition & Care GmbH) (n = 10) during the last 28 d of pregnancy were selected. Plasma samples collected at d 0 (i.e., at birth before colostrum feeding), 2, and 42 of age were used for LC-MS untargeted metabolomics. Multivariate analysis of metabolome data was performed with MetaboAnalyst 4.0. No differences between groups were detected in daily starter intake (P = 0.77) during the preweaning period. However, MET heifers had greater body weight, hip height, wither height, body length, and average daily gain (P < 0.05). Plasma metabolomics revealed a clear separation between MET and CON heifers during the preweaning period. Among enriched metabolic pathways upregulated (≥2-fold) in MET heifers were several associated with amino acid metabolism (tryptophan, valine, tyrosine), thiamin metabolism, and peroxisomal oxidation. In contrast, downregulated pathways in MET calves (≥2-fold) were primarily associated with b-oxidation of fatty acid, TCA cycle flux and CoA synthesis. Overall, in the absence of differences in feed intake, the responses in calf plasma metabolome profiles as a result of enhanced maternal methionine supply suggest that those calves experienced alterations in metabolism. Whether the metabolome profiles reflect provision of extra nutrients and how those profiles are associated with greater body mass and growth performance remain to be establishe.

Key Words: methionine, calf, metabolomics