Metabolic health, the metabolome and reproduction in female cattle: a review

Abstract

Studies over the past 30 years have confirmed the important role of metabolic hormones and metabolic substrates in reproductive function in female cattle. The emergence of metabolomics is providing a deeper understanding of the role of specific metabolites, and clusters of metabolites, in reproduction and also health and disease. Dairy cows undergo major fluctuations in metabolic health and metabolomics is helping to better understand the changes in metabolite profiles associated with negative energy balance and ketosis. New knowledge that emerges from this work should lead to improved nutritional management of dairy cows. In reproduction, it is now possible to gain a metabolomic signature of ovarian follicular fluid and of developing embryos. This should likewise lead to improvements in both natural and assisted reproduction in cattle. Systems biology integrates genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, and contributes to gaining an understanding of complex biological networks.

Highlights

• Metabolic hormones and metabolic substrates have a major influence on reproduction in female cattle.

• Negative energy balance and ketosis are associated with changes in the systemic and liver metabolome in dairy cows.

• The metabolome of ovarian follicular fluid influences oocyte quality and embryo development.

• Systems biology integrates genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, and provides a deeper understanding of complex biological networks.

Keywords:

• Metabolic health
• metabolome
• reproduction
• female cattle

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge with gratitude the many postgraduates who contributed to research and thinking in our laboratories that is included in this review.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare there is no conflict of interest.