Effects of Propylene Glycol on Milk Production, Serum Metabolites and Reproductive Performance during the Transition Period of Dairy Cows

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of an oral drench of propylene glycol (PG) on milk production, serum metabolites and reproductive performance during the transition period of animals. Twenty-four 2-3 multiparous Holstein cows (average body weight 565 kg, body condition score about 3.6, at the 9 th month of gestation) were selected, blocked, and then randomly assigned into a PG and a control group. The control and the PG group cows were orally drenched with water or 50 ml sugarcane molasses mixed with 500 ml PG from 7 days pre-partum to 30 days post-partum, respectively. Experimental results indicated that the oral drench PG had no effect on dry matter intake (DMI). The milk yield of the PG group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05), whereas milk fat content, milk protein and somatic cell counts (SCC) were not significantly different between groups. Concentration of plasma glucose in the PG group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). Conversely, the concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the PG group were lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). Concentrations of insulin and ketone bodies were not significantly difference between groups. Body condition score (BCS) in the PG group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). In reproductive performance there was no difference between groups. The experimental results indicate that supplementation of PG during the transition period of dairy cows can supply energy rapidly, resulting in reduced catabolism of body tissue and increased milk yield.

A field trial on the effect of propylene glycol on milk yield and resolution of ketosis in fresh cows diagnosed with subclinical ketosis

“…To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that examined the effect of PG on milk yield of cows diagnosed with SCK. Although multiple studies have found a positive effect on milk yield after prophylactic administration of PG during early lactation (Formigoni et al, 1996;Miyoshi et al, 2001;Lien et al, 2010), only the trial completed by Lien et al (2010) showed a significant difference between groups, with PG-treated cows producing 0.61 kg more milk per day in the first 90 d than control cows. A few studies found a numerical decrease in milk yield after prophylactic administration of PG in early lactation (Emery et al, 1964;Fisher et al, 1973;Pickett et al, 2003), in which none of the results were statistically significant.…”

Avaliação do perfil metabólico de vacas da raça Holandesa durante o período de transição

“…O aumento dos valores de AGNE, observado a partir do dia do parto, é descrito por vários autores (Schwalm & Schultz 1976, Guretzky et al 2006, Lien et al 2010) e, segundo Reynolds et al (2003), tal aumento se deve a maior liberação de AGNEs para a veia porta no início da lactação, em decorrência da rápida mobilização de gordura localizada no mesentério e omento das vacas. Portanto, a concentração de AGNEs é o reflexo da magnitude de mobilização das reservas corporais e começa a aumentar alguns dias antes do parto, tendo como objetivo fornecer energia para suprir as necessidades do organismo (Bell 1995, Duffied & LeBlanc 2009, LeBlanc et al 2005, LeBlanc 2010.…”

“…Os aumentos nas concentrações de BHBA ocorrem momentos após o aumento das concentrações de AGNE (Busato et al 2002, Doepel et al 2002, Cavestany et al 2005. A elevação do valor de BHBA após o parto é descrita por vários autores (Doepel et al 2002, Bertoni et al 2008, Lien et al 2010, Cincovic et al 2012, que observaram maiores valores na primeira semana pós-parto. Vazquez-Añon et al (1994) também encontraram aumento de BHBA no dia seguinte ao parto, porém seu maior valor foi observado no décimo dia pós-parto.…”

<b>Inclusion of propylene glycol in the diet of sheep and its effect on their lambs’ protein and mineral metabolites

“…Propylene glycol has been used to feed ruminants as an alternative to lessen the negative energy balance generated by an increase in the milk production capacity of matrices. Some studies have reported a successful use of propylene glycol, such as reduced plasma concentrations of betahydroxybutyrate, free fatty acids, urea, and increased plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, cholesterol and IGF-I (Lien, Chang, Horng & Wu, 2010;Rukkwamsuk & Panneum, 2010).…”