Infusion of butyrate affects plasma glucose, butyrate, and β-hydroxybutyrate but not plasma insulin in lactating dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects on plasma metabolites and rumen traits when butyrate was infused into the rumen or abomasum of lactating cows. Jugular catheters were inserted into 5 ruminally fistulated Holstein cows [94.2 ± 26.3 DIM; 717 ± 45 kg of body weight (BW); mean ± SD] in a 5 × 5 Latin square with 3-d periods. Cows were infused for 24 h with 1 of 5 treatments: water (CON), 1 g/kg of BW of butyrate infused into either the abomasum (A1) or rumen (R1), or 2 g/kg of BW of butyrate infused into either the abomasum or rumen. Sodium butyrate was the source of butyrate and NaCl was added to the CON, A1, and R1 treatments to provide the same amount of sodium as supplied by the sodium butyrate treatment in the 2-g treatments. Plastisol flanges were inserted into the abomasum to allow infusion to the abomasum and peristaltic pumps provided continuous infusion at 9.3 mL/min for all treatments. The concentration of NaCl and sodium butyrate was varied in the infusate to provide the correct infusion amount. Rumen fluid samples were collected at -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 28, and 32 h relative to start of infusion. Serial blood samples were collected at -2, -1, 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 26, 28, and 32 h relative to start of infusion. Compared with CON, infusing butyrate increased both plasma butyrate and plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), whereas plasma glucose decreased. Increasing butyrate infusion from 1 to 2 g increased plasma butyrate, tended to decrease plasma glucose, and tended to increase plasma BHB. Compared with abomasal infusion, rumen infusion of butyrate increased rumen butyrate, did not affect plasma glucose, and tended to increase plasma BHB. Treatment had no effect on plasma insulin. Results demonstrated that site of infusion and amount of butyrate affected several plasma metabolites when butyrate was infused in lactating dairy cows over a period of 24 h.