The effect of body condition on metabolic changes associated with intake of food by the cow

Abstract

1. Changes in concentrations of metabolites in blood and rumen fluid were measured in cows when fat and when thin and when given hay and concentrates at a restricted level or ad lib.2. When fed ad lib., cows consumed 24% more food when thin than when fat.3. Concentrations in rumen fluid of acetate and propionate after feeding at both levels did not differ significantly between fat and thin cows.4. Concentrations in blood of the lipogenic substrates acetate and 3-hydroxybutyrate did not differ between fat and thin cows after feeding, but glucose concentration fell more rapidly in thin cows especially when fed ad lib. Propionate rose more in thin cows than in fat cows when fed ad lib. Non-esterified fatty acids were higher in fat cows before feeding, but fell to similar levels to those in thin cows after feeding.5. The results are interpreted as indicating a more rapid rate of fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissue of thin cows. This in turn tends to lower blood levels of fatty acid precursors and so enhance the rate of their absorption from the rumen. This in turn permits higher intake of food before short-term chemical regulators of intake start to operate.