Relations between plasma acetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, FFA, glucose levels and energy nutrition in lactating dairy cows

To clarify the implication of an energy nutrition on a metabolic alteration with advancing lactation, total 270 blood samples were taken from 16 lactating dairy cows. Amounts of dietary allowance and the refusals were measured daily, and the energy (TDN) intakes and a satisfaction (energy balance) of each cow were estimated. Plasma acetate, 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), free fatty acid (FFA) and glucose levels were estimated. The data were divided into 3 groups depending on the days in milk; early (up to 70 days postpartum), mid (71 to 140 days), and late (after 141 days) lactation. There were many cases of higher FFA level in early lactation, especially with declining acetate and glucose levels. There were proportional elevations of 3-HB in connection with FFA levels in many samples of early lactation, though the 3-HB increased independently of FFA levels in the most cases of the mid and late lactations. Plasma 3-HB levels increased in many cases of decreased glucose level, especially in the early lactation. Plasma acetate level correlated positively with 3-HB level, but not correlated with glucose level. Higher FFA level and elevation of FFA/3-HB ratio were observed in the conditions of negative energy balance. This implies the metabolic importance of FFA in a ketogenesis of the early lactation.