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Nutrition, Metabolism, and Fertility in Dairy Cows: 3. Amino Acids and Ovarian Function

P. C. Garnsworthy^*,1, J. G. Gong, D. G. Armstrong, J. R. Newbold, M. Marsden, S. E. Richards^#, G. E. Mann^*, K. D. Sinclair^* and R. Webb^*

^* University of Nottingham, School of Biosciences, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, United Kingdom
Roslin Institute (Edinburgh), Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9PS, United Kingdom
Provimi Research and Technology Centre, Lenneke Marelaan 2, 1932 Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, Belgium
ABNA Ltd., ABN House, Oundle Road, Peterborough PE2 9PW, United Kingdom
^# Provimi Ltd., Dalton Airfield Industrial Estate, Dalton, Thirsk YO7 3HE, United Kingdom

¹ Corresponding author: Phil.Garnsworthy{at}nottingham.ac.uk

Plasma insulin concentrations influence resumption of ovarian activity in postpartum dairy cows, and plasma insulin can be manipulated by changing dietary starch and fat supply. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the role of dietary amino acids in altering peripheral metabolic hormones and ovarian function. Thirty-two cows were fed a standard diet from calving until 40 d in milk (DIM), and then 8 cows were transferred to each of 4 dietary treatments until 70 DIM. The 4 diets were designed to supply either low (diets 1 and 2) or high (diets 3 and 4) levels of metabolizable protein (MP), containing either low (diet 1 and 3) or high (diets 2 and 4) proportions of Leu. Leucine was manipulated with heat-treated lupins and corn gluten meal. Estrus was synchronized at 60 DIM. Between 60 and 70 DIM, energy intake and energy balance were similar among diet groups, although cows receiving high MP containing high Leu had a greater milk yield than other groups (means: 37.8, 37.1, 37.4, 39.4 ± standard error 0.85 kg/d for diets 1 to 4, respectively). Interactions between MP and Leu were found for insulin, glucagon, and the ratio between them. Insulin was not affected by Leu in diets with low MP but was decreased by greater Leu in diets with high MP (means: 0.37, 0.32, 0.46, 0.39 ± SE 0.031 ng/mL for diets 1 to 4, respectively). Glucagon was not affected by MP in diets with low Leu but was increased by greater MP in diets with high Leu (means: 92, 81, 88, 95 ± SE 6.0 pg/mL for diets 1 to 4, respectively). For the low-MP treatments, the insulin-to-glucagon ratio was greater with high Leu; for the high-MP treatments, the insulin-to-glucagon ratio was greater with low Leu (means: 4.28, 5.42, 5.16, 4.22 ± SE 0.456 for diets 1 to 4, respectively). There was no effect of MP or Leu on ovarian follicle numbers or reproductive hormones. Based on hormonal and ovarian responses, we conclude that altering metabolic hormones through manipulation of amino acid supply and balance is unlikely to have a significant effect on ovarian function in dairy cows.

Key Words: dairy cow • insulin-to-glucagon ratio • amino acid • ovarian function

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P C Garnsworthy, A A Fouladi-Nashta, G E Mann, K D Sinclair, and R Webb Effect of dietary-induced changes in plasma insulin concentrations during the early post partum period on pregnancy rate in dairy cows Reproduction, April 1, 2009; 137(4): 759 - 768. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]