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Metabolites
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Metabolic Research in Animal Nutrition and Production
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Metabolic Research in Animal Nutrition and Production

A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 5525

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Tietao Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Special Animal and Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun 130112, China
Interests: animal metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Qingkui Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Public Health Research Institute, Rutgers, Rutgers University–New Brunswick, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
Interests: metabolic reprogramming in health and disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions occurring within an organism. Metabolic studies have become increasingly popular in biomedical research. However, there has been limited investigation into metabolism in special economic and companion animals.

As with other animals, metabolism in special economic and companion animals provides energy and building blocks essential for life. Therefore, metabolic studies can be powerful tools for determining the efficiency of feedstuffs, assessing animal physiology, diagnosing diseases, and more. The unique nature of these animals makes related studies more challenging yet even more crucial to a One Health approach.

We propose this Research Topic to provide a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of metabolism in special economic and companion animals. We welcome contributions from researchers on animal nutrient metabolism, including original research articles, reviews, and perspectives. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  1. Metabolic responses influencing animal nutrition, growth, performance, production, and welfare.
  2. The application of metabolism studies in phenotypic characterization of animals, assessment of animal health, and diagnosis of diseases.
  3. Metabolic reprogramming in animals in response to various stresses and diseases.
  4. Investigating the interconnections between animal and human metabolism: Implications for One Health in livestock farming and pet-owning households.

We believe your contribution to this Research Topic will not only highlight the significance of metabolism in the study of special economic and companion animals but also stimulate further research in relevant fields.

Dr. Tietao Zhang
Dr. Qingkui Jiang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • special economic animals
  • companion animals
  • nutrition
  • metabolomics
  • microbiome
  • metabolites
  • animal nutrition
  • animal production
  • animal health and disease
  • metabolic phenotypes

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 250 KiB  
Article
Impact of the Dietary Fat Concentration and Source on the Fecal Microbiota of Healthy Adult Cats
by Nadine Paßlack, Kathrin Büttner, Wilfried Vahjen and Jürgen Zentek
Metabolites 2025, 15(4), 215; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo15040215 - 22 Mar 2025
Viewed by 283
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The dietary fat supply might interact with the intestinal microbiota via different mechanisms. Research on this topic, however, remains scarce in cats. For this reason, the present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the fat concentration and fatty acid profile [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The dietary fat supply might interact with the intestinal microbiota via different mechanisms. Research on this topic, however, remains scarce in cats. For this reason, the present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of the fat concentration and fatty acid profile in the diet on the fecal microbiota of healthy cats. Methods: A low-fat basal diet was fed to ten healthy adult cats. The diet was offered without or with the daily addition of 0.5 g or 1 g of sunflower oil, fish oil or lard per kg body weight of the cats, using a randomized cross-over design. Each feeding period lasted for 21 days, and the fecal samples were collected on the last days of each period. The fecal microbiota was analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing. Additionally, microbial metabolites (short-chain fatty acids, lactate, ammonium, biogenic amines) were measured in the fecal samples. Results: The dietary treatment had no impact on the alpha-diversity of the fecal microbiota or on the relative abundance of bacterial phyla in the samples. Only a few changes were observed in the relative abundance of bacterial genera and the concentrations of microbial metabolites in the feces, probably being of minor physiological relevance. Conclusions: The balanced intestinal microbiota of cats seems to be relatively resistant to moderate variations in the dietary fat supply over a short feeding period. Longer-term treatments and higher dietary fat levels should be evaluated in future studies to further clarify the relevance of fat intake for the feline gut microbiome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Research in Animal Nutrition and Production)
13 pages, 2091 KiB  
Article
Hepatic Transcriptomics of Broilers with Low and High Feed Conversion in Response to Caloric Restriction
by Adewunmi O. Omotoso, Henry Reyer, Michael Oster, Siriluck Ponsuksili, Barbara Metzler-Zebeli and Klaus Wimmers
Metabolites 2024, 14(11), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14110625 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1239
Abstract
Background: In broiler chickens, the efficient utilization of macro- and micronutrients is influenced by various metabolic pathways that are closely linked to feed efficiency (FE), a critical metric in poultry industry, with residual feed intake (RFI) as the preferred proxy. Feed restriction is [...] Read more.
Background: In broiler chickens, the efficient utilization of macro- and micronutrients is influenced by various metabolic pathways that are closely linked to feed efficiency (FE), a critical metric in poultry industry, with residual feed intake (RFI) as the preferred proxy. Feed restriction is considered an approach to address the underlying molecular mechanisms of feed conversion. We hypothesized that broiler chickens with divergent RFI subjected to quantitative feed restriction differ in their pattern of molecular pathways for efficient nutrient utilization in liver as post-absorptive tissue. Methods: Cobb 500FF broiler chickens divergent for RFI (n = 112) were feed-restricted from day 9 until market weight at day 33–37 post-hatch. Based on a previous trial, feed restriction levels were set at 92% (low-RFI birds) and 80% (high-RFI birds) relative to the control groups. Transcriptomic analyses of the liver were conducted. Results: Due to the interaction of the RFI group and feeding regimen, a total of 140 to 507 differentially expressed genes were identified for the respective contrasts, with implications for hepatic metabolism and cellular stress response. Although the broilers did not realize their full growth potential under restrictive feeding (12.4% reduced body weight vs. controls, p = 0.094), the gene expression patterns indicate a lower susceptibility to blood coagulation (KNG1, FGG, and FGB), suggesting that controlled and mild feed restriction could lead to health benefits in less feed-efficient broilers. Moreover, FE traits are shown to be linked to cellular detoxification processes (MGST3 and CYP2AC2) and triacylglycerol syntheses (MOGAT1 and LPIN1). Conclusions: Divergent transcriptional profiles between broiler groups under varied caloric conditions indicate potential for optimizing nutritional management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Research in Animal Nutrition and Production)
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31 pages, 1738 KiB  
Article
Metabolic Fingerprinting of Blood and Urine of Dairy Cows Affected by Bovine Leukemia Virus: A Mass Spectrometry Approach
by Dawid Tobolski, Grzegorz Zwierzchowski, Roman Wójcik, Klevis Haxhiaj, David S. Wishart and Burim N. Ametaj
Metabolites 2024, 14(11), 624; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14110624 - 14 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1146
Abstract
Objectives: This study investigated metabolic changes associated with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection in dairy cows, focusing on pre-parturition alterations. Methods: Metabolite identification in serum and urine samples was performed using a targeted metabolomics method, employing the TMIC Prime kit in combination with [...] Read more.
Objectives: This study investigated metabolic changes associated with bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection in dairy cows, focusing on pre-parturition alterations. Methods: Metabolite identification in serum and urine samples was performed using a targeted metabolomics method, employing the TMIC Prime kit in combination with flow injection analysis and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Of 145 cows examined, 42 (28.9%) were BLV-seropositive. Around 38% of infected cows showed high somatic cell counts indicative of subclinical mastitis, with 15 experiencing additional health issues such as ketosis, milk fever, and lameness. Despite these conditions, no significant differences in milk yield or composition were observed between the infected and control groups. Metabolomic analysis conducted at −8 and −4 weeks prepartum revealed significant metabolic differences between BLV-infected and healthy cows. At −8 weeks, 30 serum metabolites were altered, including sphingomyelins, lysophosphatidylcholines, amino acids, and acylcarnitines, suggesting disruptions in membrane integrity, energy metabolism, and immune function indicative of early neoplastic transformations. By −4 weeks, the number of altered metabolites decreased to 17, continuing to reflect metabolic disruptions in cows with leukemia. Multivariate analysis highlighted distinct metabolic profiles between infected and control cows, identifying key discriminating metabolites such as choline, aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and arginine. Urine metabolomics revealed significant prepartum shifts in metabolites related to glucose, asymmetric dimethylarginine, and pyruvic acid, among others. Conclusions: The research confirmed metabolomics’ efficacy in defining a BLV infection metabolic profile, elucidating leukosis-associated metabolic disruptions. This approach facilitates the identification of BLV-infected cows and enhances understanding of infection pathophysiology, providing a foundation for advanced management and intervention strategies in dairy herds. The study underscores the profound impact of leukosis on metabolic processes and highlights urine metabolomics’ utility in non-invasively detecting BLV infection, offering the potential for improved herd health management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Research in Animal Nutrition and Production)
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16 pages, 456 KiB  
Article
Effects of the Dietary Fat Concentration and Fatty Acid Pattern on the Urine Composition, Apparent Nutrient Digestibility, and Selected Blood Values of Healthy Adult Cats
by Nadine Paßlack, Simon Franz Müller, Kathrin Büttner and Jürgen Zentek
Metabolites 2024, 14(11), 605; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14110605 - 8 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1105
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The dietary fat concentration and fatty acid profile can influence various aspects of the feline organism. This study examined their effects on the urine composition, apparent nutrient digestibility, and selected blood variables. Methods: Ten healthy adult cats (46.6 ± 14.1 [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The dietary fat concentration and fatty acid profile can influence various aspects of the feline organism. This study examined their effects on the urine composition, apparent nutrient digestibility, and selected blood variables. Methods: Ten healthy adult cats (46.6 ± 14.1 months old, initial body weight 4.99 ± 0.91 kg) received a low-fat basic diet with or without the addition of sunflower oil, fish oil, or lard in a randomized crossover design. The oil and lard were added to the daily amount of food at 0.5 or 1 g/kg body weight of the cats. At the end of each 3-week feeding period, urine, feces, and fasting blood samples were collected. Results: The results demonstrated only small effects of the dietary fat concentration and source on the urine composition of the cats. In addition, the apparent nutrient digestibility was unaffected by the dietary treatments. The supplementation with fish oil, but not sunflower oil or lard, lowered the triglycerides and increased the total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in the plasma of the cats (p < 0.05). However, these blood values were within the physiological reference ranges among all groups. Conclusions: It can be concluded that the dietary fat content and fatty acid profile did not adversely affect the urine composition or nutrient digestibility in healthy adult cats. The lipid metabolism of the animals was modulated by the supplementation with fish oil, a relevant source of n-3 fatty acids. The observed triglyceride-lowering effect should be further investigated in clinical studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Research in Animal Nutrition and Production)
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19 pages, 344 KiB  
Article
Effect of Age at First Calving on the Reproduction Parameters, Metabolic Profile, and Fatty Acid Composition of Polish Holstein Friesian (PHF) and Crossbreds PHF × Swedish Red (SRB) Cattle
by Paweł Solarczyk, Marcin Gołębiewski, Jan Slósarz, Antonio Natalello, Martino Musati, Ruggero Menci, Tomasz Sakowski, Karol Tucki and Kamila Puppel
Metabolites 2024, 14(11), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo14110583 - 27 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1212
Abstract
Background: The high dairy production of Polish Holstein Friesian (PHF) cows determines high energy requirements in the early stages of lactation. Unfortunately, it is very often difficult to meet this demand through feedstuffs; therefore, homeostasis may be disturbed and metabolic diseases may occur, [...] Read more.
Background: The high dairy production of Polish Holstein Friesian (PHF) cows determines high energy requirements in the early stages of lactation. Unfortunately, it is very often difficult to meet this demand through feedstuffs; therefore, homeostasis may be disturbed and metabolic diseases may occur, causing a majority of cows’ health problems. Breeders are, therefore, looking for alternatives to the PHF breed using crossbreeding. Methods: This experiment involved 30 PHF cows and 30 PHF × Swedish Red (SRB) crossbred hybrid cows, divided into two age groups, <2 years and >2 years, at first calving. Milk and blood samples were collected at 35 ± 5 days postpartum for analysis. Data on reproductive performance were also analyzed. Results: This study revealed lower milk production for the crossbreds hybrid (27.44 kg compared to 32.08 kg), with a higher basic composition content than PHF cows (fat: 3.97% compared to 3.83%, protein: 3.53% compared to 3.27%). The heifers of the crossbreds hybrid reached sexual maturity earlier but did not affect the lower age at first calving. Dividing the cows into age categories provided a more detailed perspective of the impact of genotypic differences on reproductive and metabolic profiles in PHF and PHF × SRB cattle. The findings highlight the importance of considering age-specific effects when assessing the performance and health of dairy cattle with diverse genotypes. Conclusions: The choice between PHF and PHF × SRB should depend on the specific goals and priorities of the cattle farming operation. Factors such as overall milk yield requirements, market demands, reproductive management strategies, and health considerations should be carefully evaluated to determine the most suitable breed for a given farming context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Research in Animal Nutrition and Production)
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