Integrated multi-omics analyses reveal impaired energy homeostasis underlying tongue-rolling behavior in dairy cattle.

Tongue rolling in cattle reflects chronic energy imbalance with impaired glucose homeostasis and dysregulated metabolism.

Tongue rolling in dairy cattle is a stereotypic behavior previously lacking clear biological explanation. This multi-omics study demonstrates that affected cattle exhibit significantly reduced serum glucose levels, indicating impaired energy homeostasis rather than simple nutritional deficiency or mineral imbalances. Transcriptomic analysis revealed enrichment in Rap1 and Ras signaling pathways, while proteomic findings showed increased activity in lipid metabolism and energy-related processes. Key metabolic regulators including RAP1A/B and medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) were upregulated, suggesting the animals' bodies attempted compensatory metabolic reprogramming to address chronic energy insufficiency. However, despite activation of these adaptive pathways, glucose availability remained persistently reduced. These findings reframe tongue rolling as a metabolic phenotype reflecting chronic energy imbalance and dysregulated energy-sensing mechanisms, rather than a primary behavioral disorder or consequence of isolated nutritional deficiency. This integrated approach combining transcriptomic and proteomic data provides mechanistic insight into the pathophysiology of this stereotypic behavior in cattle.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.