Blood Metabolites and Hormones—Especially Glucose and Insulin—in Veal Calves: Effects of Age and Nutrition

Abstract

Summary Veal calves often develop insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia and glucosuria. We have studied effects of age and nutrition on blood metabolites and hormones, with major emphasis on glucose and insulin, in four groups of veal calves from 66–69 kg until slaughter at 175–196 kg. Calves were fed milk replacers which differed with respect to lactose, total sugar, protein and fat content. Mean intakes in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4 of lactose (1.24, 1.08, 0.95 and 0.66 kg/d), total sugar (1.27, 1.10, 1.01 and 96 kg/d), crude protein (0.40, 0.48, 0.65 and 0.49 kg/d) and crude fat (0.32, 0.31, 0.37 and 0.46 kg/d) were different. Average daily gains were 1.46–1.49 kg and feed/gain ratios were 1.49–1.61 kg/kg. Glucose and insulin concentrations were not associated with protein and fat intakes, but followed lactose and total sugar intakes, albeit differently at the start and end of the growth trial. Thus, insulin concentrations were higher (P < 0.05) at the end than at start of the growth trial in all 4 groups, whereas glucose concentrations increased (P < 0.05) with increasing age in only group 2. In conclusion, lactose and total sugar intakes affected the degree of hyperglycaemia and modified hyperinsulinemia at a given age, but the age‐dependent rise of insulin concentrations could not be explained by hyperglycaemia alone.

Effect of plane of milk replacer intake and age on glucose and insulin kinetics and abomasal emptying in female Holstein Friesian dairy calves fed twice daily

“…This finding was expected, as high calves were fed a 2-fold greater level of dietary lactose, which has been shown to increase blood glucose levels (Palmquist et al, 1992). We found no effect of age on basal glucose, which contrasts previous studies in veal calves showing that extended feeding of large volumes of milk for several months leads to hyperglycemia and glucosuria (Hostettler-Allen et al, 1994;Hugi et al, 1997Hugi et al, , 1998). There were, however, key discrepancies between these studies and the current study.…”

“…There were, however, key discrepancies between these studies and the current study. In these studies (Hostettler-Allen et al, 1994;Hugi et al, 1997Hugi et al, , 1998 the total feeding level of MR was greater than 2 kg/d (DM basis) with expected gains of greater than 1.4 kg/d (2× the high calves and 4× the low calves in this experiment). Furthermore, the majority of the other studies were conducted after the first 2 mo of life, which constitutes a different experimental model compared with the current study.…”

Intensive rearing of male calves during the first three weeks of life has long-term effects on number of islets of Langerhans and insulin stained area in the pancreas

“…Like in monogastric species, glucose derived from intestinal absorption plays the most important role in the regulation of insulin secretion in young calves (Khan et al, 2007a). Therefore, the plasma glucose and insulin levels are associated with the amount of lactose intake during the first week of life (Hugi et al, 1997). In monogastric animals, changes in glucose levels modify the rate of translation of preexisting mRNA and thereby the rate of exocytosis of insulin in a matter of minutes.…”

Ruminal Drinkers: Endocrine and Metabolic Status and Effects of Suckling from a Nipple Instead of Drinking from a Bucket

“…Glucose, NEFA, triglycerides, urea, insulin, IGF‐1, T3 and T4 concentrations in RD differed with respect to absolute concentrations and (or) postprandial patterns from the healthy control calves. The metabolic and endocrine status of RD differed not only from the one in healthy veal calves fed by bucket (Hostettler‐Allen et al., 1994; Hugi et al., 1997a,b), but also from the one found for veal calves fed by computer‐controlled automates (Kaufhold et al., 2000; Rérat et al., 2005) or from one of calves suckling on their dam (Egli and Blum, 1998). Changes in nutritional technique (drinking by floating nipple instead of drinking from bucket for 10 d) were successful to improve the status of several metabolic and endocrine traits (especially postprandial glucose and insulin responses).…”