The effects of different glucose precursors on rumen and blood parameters in dairy cows

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to determine the drenching different glucose precursors, which are propylene glycol and glycerol, on rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA), blood glucose and insulin levels and dry matter intake (DMI) of dairy cows. Three rumen cannulated lactating Holstein cows were divided into propylene glycol, glycerol and control groups, according to the 3x3 Latin square method. Blood and rumen samples were taken before and at certain minutes after drinking the liquids. The amount of DMI by the cows was recorded daily. The measured DMI value was found to be the highest (22,9 kg/day) in the glycerol group and the lowest (17,3 kg/day) in the propylene glycol group (P<0,02). The blood insulin level (22,2 ng/dL) in the propylene glycol group was higher than the glycerol (18,5 ng/dL) and control (16,8 ng/dL) group (P<0,05). Rumen propionic acid values of the propylene and glycerol groups were higher than the control group (P<0,05). From this research, it is concluded that these effects should be considered in the use of propylene glycol due to the decrease in DMI along with the increase in blood glucose and insulin levels.