Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Subclinical ketosis (SCK) in dairy cows is a prevalent metabolic disorder that can reduce milk production, impair animal health, and causes substantial economic losses. Current diagnostic approaches are invasive and poorly suited for routine and autonomous on-farm detection. Here, we demonstrate non-invasive breath acetone sensing for monitoring metabolic changes associated with SCK in dairy cows. Breath samples (n = 235) were longitudinally collected over 35 days from seven dairy cows (five SCK-induced and two controls) using a custom-designed sampling mask. A chemoresistive sensor based on WO3 nanoparticles exhibited high selectivity toward acetone over interferents (e.g., ethanol, acetic acid, methane and isoprene) at their typical concentrations in cow breath and barn air. Good agreement (R2 = 0.81) with proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry was obtained for acetone quantification over a concentration range of 54 – 4,500 ppb. Time-resolved measurements revealed that the sensor captured dynamic post-partum acetone changes, including rapid increases, late-onset elevations, and stable low-level profiles. These trends were consistent with blood β-hydroxybutyrate and milk acetone measurements, supporting the physiological relevance of breath acetone as a non-invasive biomarker of SCK. These results demonstrate the potential of chemoresistive breath acetone sensing as a practical approach for longitudinal, on-farm monitoring of dairy cows for SCK detection.
Source: ChemRxiv
Institutions: ETH Zurich, Agroscope
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Award: G2173945697
OpenAlex ID: W7213357908