Additive effects of trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid and propionic acid on milk fat content and composition in dairy cows.

Diet is a relatively simple way to modify milk fat yield and composition in dairy cows as the end-products of digestion are precursors or inhibitors of milk fat synthesis. The individual effects of these end-products are well-known, but it is still not known whether these nutrients have an additive effect or an interaction effect on milk fat secretion. Thus our objective was to investigate the effects of two of these nutrients on milk fat secretion, trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and propionic acid (C3) supplied alone or together, under the same experimental conditions. Four Holstein dairy cows were used in a 4x4 Latin square design with 14-d periods. Treatments were control, CLA (duodenal infusion of 1.85 g/d of trans-10, cis-12 CLA), C3 (ruminal infusion of 500 g/d of C3) and CLA+C3 (duodenal infusion of 1.85 g/d of trans-10, cis-12 CLA plus ruminal infusion 500 g/d of C3). Infusions of trans-10, cis-12 CLA reduced milk fat content and yield by 18% whereas C3 infusions had no significant effect on milk fat secretion. Trans-10, cis-12 CLA decreased the yields of all milk fatty acids (FA). This reduction was proportionally greater for FA synthesized de novo than for preformed long-chain FA. Infusions of C3 decreased the yields and percentages of 4:0 and 18:0 and increased the yields and percentages of all odd-chain FA. Interactions between trans-10, cis-12 CLA and C3 infusions on milk fat content, yield and FA composition were never significant. Overall, this study showed that trans-10, cis-12 CLA has different and greater effects on milk fat secretion than C3. Moreover, under our experimental conditions, their effects on milk FA yields, which reflect their effects on mammary lipogenesis, were additive, whatever their individual effect.

Effects of graded levels of duodenal infusions of leucine on mammary uptake and output in lactating dairy cows.

Four multiparous Holstein cows, each equipped with a duodenal cannula and an ultrasonic mammary blood flow probe, were assigned to a 4x4 Latin square to measure the effects of duodenal infusions of Leu (0, 40, 80 and 120 g/d) on lactational responses and mammary metabolism of nutrients. Cows were fed a diet of 67.0% corn silage, 5.3% grass hay, 14.2% peas, 7.8% maize starch, 1.0% each of molasses, urea, and sodium bicarbonate and 2.4% minerals and vitamins. Requirements of the remaining 9 essential amino acids were met by infusing into the duodenum 323 g/d of a mixture of amino acids including, Ile, Val, Met, Lys, Trp, Phe, His, Thr, Arg, Tyr and Glu. Milk protein content and yield were highest with 40 g/d of Leu and then progressively declined. Milk fat content and yield were significantly decreased over the entire range of Leu infusions. Arterial concentrations of Leu increased linearly and corresponding mammary arterio-venous differences increased to a plateau with 80 g/d of Leu. As Leu infusions increased, extraction rates of Leu decreased linearly, whereas those of Ile, Val, Lys, Arg, Thr and Tyr were significantly increased. Leu was taken up by the mammary gland according to milk output with 0 and 40 g/d of Leu infused and then largely in excess. Based on responses of protein yield and mammary uptake to milk output ratio, Leu concentration in total amino acids absorbed in the small intestine needs to be close to 8.9% for optimal milk protein synthesis.

Short-term mild hyperglycemia enhances insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in lactating goats.

This work was designed to study the effect of a 3-day mild hyperglycemia (5.3 vs. 3.3 mM) on the regulation of glucose metabolism in lactating goats. Glucose was intravenously infused at variable rates simultaneously with a constant potassium-amino acid infusion. Diet plus substrate infusion maintained net energy but not protein supply. Milk yield did not change. Skeletal muscle glucose transporter (GLUT-4) was analyzed before and after hyperglycemia. In addition, the acute effect of medium and high insulin doses on glucose turnover was measured in vivo during euglycemic and hyperglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps under potassium and amino acid replacement. Hyperglycemia reduced the endogenous glucose appearance but increased glucose disposal. It decreased the total membrane-associated GLUT-4 protein in skeletal muscle. In contrast, it improved the acute insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. Both the level and duration (3 days) of hyperglycemia contributed to this improvement. We conclude that short-term mild hyperglycemia has similar effects in lactating goats as those already observed in nonlactating rodents or humans.