Effect of Glucogenic vs. Lipogenic Diets on Energy Balance, Blood Metabolites, and Reproduction in Primiparous and Multiparous Dairy Cows in Early Lactation

Abstract

Increasing the availability of glucogenic nutrients relative to lipogenic nutrients has been hypothesized to decrease the production of milk fat, to improve the energy balance (EB), and to decrease the incidence and severity of metabolic and reproductive disorders in dairy cows in early lactation. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the effects of a glucogenic, lipogenic, or mixed diet on EB, plasma metabolites and metabolic hormones, liver triacylglycerides (TAG), and reproductive variables in high-producing dairy cows in early lactation. Cows (n = 114) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 diets and were fed either a mainly lipogenic diet, a mainly glucogenic diet, or a mixture of both diets (50:50 dry matter basis) from wk 3 before the expected calving date until 9 wk postpartum. Diets were isocaloric (net energy basis) and equal in intestinal digestible protein. Dry matter intake, net energy intake, milk yield, and milk protein percentage did not differ among diets. Milk lactose percentage was less for cows fed the lipogenic diet. Milk fat percentage was less for multiparous cows fed the glucogenic diet compared with cows fed the mixed or lipogenic diet (3.69 vs. 4.02 vs. 4.22 +/- 0.07%, respectively). The calculated EB was less negative for multiparous cows fed the glucogenic diet compared with cows fed the mixed or lipogenic diet [-33 vs. -125 vs. -89 +/- 21 kJ/(kg(0.75) x d), respectively]. Postpartum, the glucogenic diet decreased plasma nonesterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and liver TAG concentrations and increased insulin concentration in multiparous cows. The glucogenic diet tended to decrease the number of days until first milk progesterone rise in multiparous cows compared with the mixed or lipogenic diet (20.4 vs. 24.4 vs. 26.4 +/- 2.1 d, respectively). Diet had no effect on any of the above-mentioned variables in primiparous cows, except that milk lactose percentage was greater for primiparous cows fed the glucogenic diet. We concluded that the glucogenic diet was effective in improving the calculated EB and decreasing plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate and liver TAG concentrations, suggesting a reduced risk of metabolic disorders in multiparous dairy cows fed a glucogenic diet.

Nutritional sub-fertility in the dairy cow: towards improved reproductive management through a better biological understanding

“…Increasing levels of FA supplementation did not markedly affect oocyte quality although progesterone post-ovulation was depressed with zero FA inclusion (Garnsworthy et al, 2008b). Van Knegsel et al (2007b) offered 3 diets from 3 weeks before calving until 9 weeks after calving: glucogenic, lipogenic, and a 50 : 50 mix of the two. They found no effect of diet on reproductive parameters in primiparous cows (n 5 21).…”

“…On the glucogenic feeds, the anti-lipolytic effect of insulin usually results in a small decrease in body energy mobilisation. Because these diets affect body mobilisation and hormones and metabolites implicated in some reproductive effects (Gong et al, 2002;van Knegsel et al, 2007c;Leroy et al, 2008b) effects on reproductive performance were anticipated. However, across the limited number of feeding trials that reported reproductive performance no clear-cut general In this example, the cow was assumed to mobilise a total of 2 units of body condition (0 to 5 scale) in the first 80 days from calving with the greatest rate of energy mobilisation at the start of lactation (after Friggens et al, 2004b).…”

“…The results of testing glucogenic-lipogenic feeding strategies (van Knegsel et al, 2007b;Garnsworthy et al, 2009) do not yet, on their own, make an overwhelming case for this approach to be applied. We currently lack larger studies and demonstration of clear-cut differences.…”

“…(It has previously been shown that emerging research results can be given added value if they concord with an underlying biological rationale (Friggens et al, 2004a)). In early lactation, excessive body lipid mobilisation causes increased circulating NEFA and b-hydroxybutyrate, lipogenic diets also do this (van Knegsel et al, 2007c) and both are associated with delayed return to oestrus cyclicity. Glucogenic diets, as well as moderating energy mobilisation in early lactation, can be seen as mimicking a situation of nutritional adequacy and/or lower milk production (Lucy, 2007) that is favourable for re-commencing reproduction.…”

The utility of sensor technology to support reproductive management on dairy farms

“…For locomotion, the economic impact of lameness (Bruijnis, et al, 2010, Ettema andØstergaard, 2006) and the effect of preventive measures (Ettema and Østergaard, 2006) have been studied. For metabolism, a lot of research has been conducted on animal nutrition to find the optimal feeding strategy to prevent metabolic problems; for example, fatty liver and negative energy balance (Bobe, et al, 2004, van Knegsel, et al, 2007.…”