Author(s): MALHEIROS, J. M.; CORREIA, B. S. B.; CERIBELI, C.; CARDOSO, D. R.; COLNAGO, L. A.; BOGUSZ JUNIOR, S.; REECY, J. M.; MOURÃO, G. B.; COUTINHO, L. L.; PALHARES, J. C. P.; BERNDT, A.; REGITANO, L. C. de A.

Summary: We conducted a study to identify the fecal metabolite profle and its proximity to the ruminal metabolism of Nelore steers based on an untargeted metabolomic approach. Twenty-six Nelore were feedlot with same diet during 105 d. Feces and rumen fuid were collected before and at slaughter, respectively. The metabolomics analysis indicated 49 common polar metabolites in the rumen and feces. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate were the most abundant polar metabolites in both bio-samples. The rumen presented signifcantly higher concentrations of the polar compounds when compared to feces (P< 0.05); even though, fecal metabolites presented an accentuated representability of the ruminal fuid metabolites. All fatty acids present in the ruminal fuid were also observed in the feces, except for C20:2n6 and C20:4n6. The identifed metabolites ofer information on the main metabolic pathways (higher impact factor and P< 0.05), as synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies; the alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolisms, the glycine, serine; and threonine metabolism and the pyruvate metabolism. The fndings reported herein on the close relationship between the ruminal fuid and feces metabolic profles may ofer new metabolic information, in addition to facilitating the sampling for metabolism investigation in animal production and health routines.

Publication year: 2021

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Instrumentation

Keywords: Acetate, Alanine, Animal production, Aspartate, Butyrate, Degradation of ketone bodies, Fecal metabolite profile, Fecal metabolites, Glutamate, Metabolomics analysis, Propionate, Rumen fluid, Ruminal metabolism of Nelore