Effect of bovine somatotropin on metabolism of lactating dairy cows: influence on rates of irreversible loss and oxidation of glucose and nonesterified fatty acids.

Effects of bovine somatotropin (bST) on irreversible loss rate (ILR) and oxidation rate of glucose and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were examined. Nine lactating cows received bST or excipient in a single reversal design using 14-d periods. Kinetic variables were estimated by compartmental analysis of blood metabolite and expired CO2 specific activity values obtained during infusion of [U-14C]glucose or [1-14C]palmitate. With bST treatment, milk energy yield increased by 31% but feed intake was unchanged. Blood glucose concentrations were not affected by treatment or correlated with any glucose kinetic variables. In the control period, glucose ILR was 12.1 mol/d with 66.5% utilized for milk lactose synthesis and 17.4% oxidized to CO2. Treatment with bST increased glucose ILR (+1.5 mol/d) and reduced glucose oxidation (-0.4 mol/d); this accommodated the additional glucose (+1.3 mol/d) required for the increase in lactose secretion. Increases in milk energy yield with bST treatment caused cows to be in a substantial negative net energy balance (-9.8 Mcal/d). No acute lipolytic response occurred with bST treatment, but plasma NEFA were chronically elevated (+104 mumol/L) and NEFA ILR increased (+2.3 mol/d). Increased NEFA turnover was primarily used for increased oxidation to CO2 (+0.5 mol/d) and 41% increase in milk fat (equal to approximately 1.3 mol fatty acids/d). For NEFA, plasma concentrations were correlated with ILR (r = +0.80), oxidation to CO2 (r = +0.74) and net energy balance (r = -0.78). Overall, bST resulted in an exquisite coordination of metabolism to meet nutrient needs for increased synthesis of milk components.