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An automatic in vitro gas production technique was evaluated for predicting in vivo fiber (NDF) digestibility and effective first-order digestion rate of potentially digestible NDF (pdNDF) of 15 grass silages. Observed in vivo NDF digestibility of the silages harvested at different stages of maturity during 3 yr was determined by the total fecal collection in sheep fed at the maintenance level of intake. Isolated grass silage NDF was incubated for 72 h in the presence of rumen fluid and buffer to determine the pdNDF digestion kinetics based on cumulative gas production profiles. The digestion kinetic parameters were estimated by a 2-pool Gompertz function. The estimated parameter values were then used in a 2-compartment mechanistic rumen model to predict the in vivo digestibility of pdNDF. A total compartmental mean residence time of 50 h was used in the model, and a further assumption of the distribution of the residence time between the rumen nonescapable and escapable pools in a ratio of 0.4:0.6 was made. To make a distinction between potentially digestible and indigestible NDF, the potential extent of NDF digestion was determined by a 12-d ruminal in situ incubation. The model-predicted in vivo NDF digestibility accurately and precisely (root mean square error = 0.013 units, R(2) = 0.99). Effective first-order digestion rate was estimated from the predicted pdNDF digestibility, and the values were compared with those calculated from the in vivo pdNDF digestibility using the same passage kinetic parameters. The predicted effective first-order digestion rate was strongly correlated with digestion rate estimates derived from in vivo data (root mean square error = 0.006/h, R(2) = 0.86). It can be concluded that a simple first-order digestion rate can be estimated from a complicated gas production kinetic model including 6 parameters. This rate constant can be used in continuous steady-state dynamic mechanistic rumen models predicting the nutrient supply to the host animal.

Glucose uptake in tissues is mediated by insulin receptor (INSR) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of body condition during the dry period on adipose tissue mRNA and protein expression of INSR and GLUT4, and on the dynamics of glucose and insulin following the i.v. glucose tolerance test in Holstein cows 21 d before (d -21) and after (d 21) calving. Cows were grouped as body condition score (BCS) ≤3.0 (thin, T; n = 14), BCS = 3.25 to 3.5 (optimal, O; n = 14), and BCS ≥3.75 (overconditioned, OC; n = 14). Blood was analyzed for glucose, insulin, fatty acids, and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations. Adipose tissue was analyzed for INSR and GLUT4 mRNA and protein concentrations. During the glucose tolerance test 0.15 g/kg of body weight glucose was infused; blood was collected at -5, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min, and analyzed for glucose and insulin. On d -21 the area under the curve (AUC) of glucose was smallest in group T (1,512 ± 33.9 mg/dL × min) and largest in group OC (1,783 ± 33.9 mg/dL × min), and different between all groups. Basal insulin on d -21 was lowest in group T (13.9 ± 2.32 µU/mL), which was different from group OC (24.9 ± 2.32 µU/mL. On d -21 the smallest AUC 5-60 of insulin in group T (5,308 ± 1,214 µU/mL × min) differed from the largest AUC in group OC (10,867 ± 1,215 µU/mL × min). Time to reach basal concentration of insulin in group OC (113 ± 14.1 min) was longer compared with group T (45 ± 14.1). The INSR mRNA abundance on d 21 was higher compared with d -21 in groups T (d -21: 3.3 ± 0.44; d 21: 5.9 ± 0.44) and O (d -21: 3.7 ± 0.45; d 21: 4.7 ± 0.45). The extent of INSR protein expression on d -21 was highest in group T (7.3 ± 0.74 ng/mL), differing from group O (4.6 ± 0.73 ng/mL), which had the lowest expression. The amount of GLUT4 protein on d -21 was lowest in group OC (1.2 ± 0.14 ng/mL), different from group O (1.8 ± 0.14 ng/mL), which had the highest amount, and from group T (1.5 ± 0.14 ng/mL). From d -21 to 21, a decrease occurred in the GLUT4 protein levels in both groups T (d -21: 1.5 ± 0.14 ng/mL; d 21: 0.8 ± 0.14 ng/mL) and O (d -21: 1.8 ± 0.14 ng/mL; d 21: 0.8 ± 0.14 ng/mL). These results demonstrate that in obese cows adipose tissue insulin resistance develops prepartum and is related to reduced GLUT4 protein synthesis. Regarding glucose metabolism, body condition did not affect adipose tissue insulin resistance postpartum.

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The molecular composition of milk is influenced by various genetic and environmental factors. Time is one important factor, and the fact that certain milk components change over the course of lactation is widely accepted. Untargeted global metabolomics is an approach to study hundreds of low molecular weight compounds simultaneously. In this study, mass spectrometry-based global metabolomics was used to follow the course of changes in milk (n=133) and blood plasma (n=133) during the early stage of lactation. Little correlation was found between the molecular composition of blood plasma and milk. Blood showed a higher dependence on animal individuality than did milk, in which common evolutions in time resolved. Citrate and lactose had the greatest effect on these changes; however, the most significant changes in milk during the first months of lactation were associated with phosphorylated saccharide levels, whereas the most significant changes in blood plasma were associated with levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids containing phosphatidylcholine. In conclusion, a new systemic approach was used to search for minor metabolites whose concentrations were significantly altered in milk and blood during the first months of lactation.

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Present paper is directed toward public health related institutions and food industries producing foods with potentially high contents of trans fatty acids (TFA). According to the public concern TFA content in domestic blended spreads has declined significantly over the past 3 y in Estonia. The reduction in the TFA content was achieved by replacing TFA with saturated fatty acids (SFA) (C12:0-C16:0). To shift food composition toward healthier product formulations, mandatory labeling of the sum of IP-TFA and SFA (C12:0-C16:0) was recommended.

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