Glucose and lactate absorption and metabolic interrelationships in steers changed from low to high concentrate diets

Cannulas were surgically implanted in the portal and mesenteric veins and femoral artery of eight crossbred steers averaging 270 kg. They were given primed, continuous 3-hour infusions of U-[14C]-L-lactate and 2-[3H]- or 6-[3H]-glucose into the jugular vein and para-aminohippuric acid (portal blood flow indicator) into the mesenteric vein before and after being changed from a pelleted alfalfa hay to a pelleted 85% concentrate diet. Blood samples were collected at 20-minute intervals during infusions. Reliable blood flow data were obtained on four of the eight steers during the first infusion; the other four were not infused the second time. Dry matter intake, portal blood flow, net portal D-lactate absorption (P less than 0.10), net portal glucose absorption and L-lactate turnover rate (P less than 0.10) increased as a result of increased concentrate (energy) intake. Glucose turnover rate (P less than 0.10), L-lactate absorbed as a percentage of turnover rate, L-lactate converted to glucose and glucose derived from L-lactate concomitantly decreased. Net portal L-lactate absorption was not affected. The direction of the response for portal blood flow, net portal D-lactate absorption, net portal glucose absorption, L-lactate turnover and L-lactate absorbed as a percentage of turnover was the same as that previously observed in lambs under similar experimental protocol. Differences in responses between lambs and steers for glucose turnover and L-lactate converted to glucose may be attributable to differences in dry matter or energy intake or both.