Rashid et al. Differences in plasma and uterine metabolome associated with vaginal discharge characteristics in peripartum dairy cows

This study compared the metabolome of transition cows based on vaginal discharge characteristics within 10 DIM. Plasma and uterine fluid were collected at multiple time points. No metabolomic differences were detected prepartum (plasma) or on the day of calving (plasma and uterus). However, within 10 DIM, cows with fetid, watery, red-brown vaginal discharge exhibited distinct plasma and uterine metabolomic profiles compared with cows with clear, mucopurulent, or purulent discharge. When integrated with previous data on lactational performance and uterine microbiome, these findings indicate that fetid, watery, red-brown discharge is a robust indicator of metabolomic shift associated with impaired cow performance.