Proteomics and the characterization of fatty liver metabolism in early lactation dairy cows

Abstract

The high-yielding dairy cow faces major adaptions during the transition period from late pregnancy to early lactation where physiological changes occur in support of the dramatically increase in milk yield. The coordinated physiological changes secure mobilization of nutrients and energy from the body tissue that, in part, covers the rapid increase in nutrient needs for milk production in early lactation. Large amounts of energy are released from fat tissue as non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) which together with a depressed increase in energy intake are bringing the cow into a state of negative energy balance. Approximately 25% of the NEFA passes through the liver, where it is metabolized or esterified to triglyceride. When the latter becomes excessive, fatty liver or hepatic lipidosis generally as a subclinical disease state will occur. This chapter investigates realizations in the molecular factors potentially causing fatty liver in the transition cow discovered using proteomics.