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Studies on the Relationships between Rumen Acids and Fat Metabolism of Ruminants Fed on Restricted Roughage Diets¹

Department of Dairy Husbandry, University of Wisconsin, Madison

ABSTRACT

The feeding of restricted roughage with high levels of concentrates produced significant declines in milk fat in lactating cows and goats. Associated with the decline in milk fat were a signficant increase in the concentration of rumen propionic acid and a decrease in blood ketone bodies. There was a decrease in arterial-blood acetic acid and in the arterial-mammary difference under conditions of ground and restricted-roughage feeding. The feeding of sodium acetate tended to increase low milk fat, and the feeding of sodium propionate tended to lower it further. An hypothesis regarding a mechanism of milk-fat depression based on the antiketogenic properties of propionic acid is discussed.

¹ The data in this paper are taken from a thesis presented by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Wisconsin. Published with the approval of the Director, Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, Madison.

² Ralston-Purina Research Fellow, 1954–55. Present address: Dairy Cattle Research Branch, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland.

³ Deceased March 7, 1959.