Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T13:29:14.889Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Whole-body fluxes and partitioning of amino acids to the mammary gland of cows fed fresh pasture at two levels of intake during early lactation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

D. Pacheco ,
M.H. Tavendale ,
G. W. Reynolds ,
T. N. Barry ,
J. Lee  and
W. C. McNabb
D. Pacheco
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Behaviour, AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
M.H. Tavendale
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Behaviour, AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand
G. W. Reynolds
Affiliation:
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
T. N. Barry
Affiliation:
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
J. Lee
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Behaviour, AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand
W. C. McNabb*
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Behaviour, AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008, Palmerston North, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Warren C. McNabb, fax +64 6 351 8003, email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The utilisation of essential amino acids (EAA) by the mammary gland of lactating dairy cows fed fresh forages was studied to provide basic information useful in designing strategies to increase the production of milk protein from pasture-fed dairy cows. The relationship between the flux of EAA in the whole body and their uptake by the mammary gland was determined in four cows in early lactation (length of time in milk 44 (SD 14·5) d) producing 21 (SD 4·0) kg milk/d. The cows were maintained in metabolism stalls and fed fresh perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture ad libitum or restricted to 75 % ad libitum intake. The whole-body fluxes of amino acids (AA) were measured using an arterio-venous infusion of universally 13C-labelled AA. Whole-body fluxes of fourteen AA were estimated. Isotope dilution indicated that mammary utilisation accounted for one-third of the whole-body flux of EAA, with individual AA ranging between 17 and 35 %. Isoleucine, leucine, valine and lysine were the EAA with the greatest partitioning towards the mammary gland (up to 36 % of the whole-body flux), which could reflect a potentially limiting effect on milk protein synthesis. In the case of AA with low partitioning to the mammary gland (for example, histidine), it is suggested that non-mammary tissues may have priority over the mammary gland and therefore the supply of this AA may also limit milk protein synthesis.

Keywords

Mammary glandAmino acid metabolismDairy cowsPasture diets
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 90 , Issue 2 , August 2003 , pp. 271 - 281
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2003

References

AFRC (1993) Energy and Protein Requirements of Ruminants. An Advisory Manual Prepared by the AFRC Technical Committee on Responses to Nutrients. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.Google Scholar
Armstrong, DG (1973) The uptake of amino acids by the small intestine of the ruminant animal. In Production Disease in Farm Animals, pp. 43–53. [Payne, JM, Hibbitt, KG & Sansom, BF, editors]. London, UK: Baillière Tindall.Google Scholar
Backwell, FRC, Bequette, BJ & Wilson, D (1994) Utilization of dipeptides by the caprine mammary gland for milk protein synthesis. Am J Physiol 267, R1–R6.Google ScholarPubMed
Backwell, FRC, Bequette, BJ & Wilson, D (1996) Evidence for the utilization of peptides for milk protein synthesis in the lactating dairy goat in vivo. Am J Physiol 271, R955–R960.Google ScholarPubMed
Baracos, VE, Brun-Bellut, J & Marie, M (1991) Tissue protein synthesis in lactating and dry goats. Br J Nutr 66, 451–465.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barbano, DM (1994) Reference and routine methods for measurement of N fractions. Protein definition. In International Dairy Federation Special Issue no. 9403. pp. 40–55. Brussels, Belgium: International Dairy Federation.Google Scholar
Bauman, DE & Currie, WB (1980) Partitioning of nutrients during pregnancy and lactation: A review of mechanisms involving homeostasis and homeorhesis. J Dairy Sci 63, 1514–1529.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Baumrucker, CR (1985) Amino acid transport systems in bovine mammary tissue. J Dairy Sci 68, 2436–2451.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bequette, BJ, Backwell, FRC & Calder, AG (1997) Application of a U-13C-labeled amino acid tracer in lactating dairy goats for simultaneous measurements of the flux of amino acids in plasma and the partition of amino acids to the mammary gland. J Dairy Sci 80, 2842–2853.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bequette, BJ, Backwell, FRC & Crompton, LA (1998) Current concepts of amino acid and protein metabolism in the mammary gland of the lactating ruminant. J Dairy Sci 81, 2540–2559.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bequette, BJ, Backwell, FRC & Dhanoa, MS (1994) Kinetics of blood free and milk casein-amino acid labelling in the dairy goat at two stages of lactation. Br J Nutr 72, 211–220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bequette, BJ, Backwell, FRC & MacRae, JC (1996) Effect of intravenous amino acid infusion on leucine oxidation across the mammary gland of the lactating goat. J Dairy Sci 79, 2217–2224.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bequette, BJ, Metcalf, JA, Wray-Cahen, D (1996) Leucine and protein metabolism in the lactating dairy cow mammary gland: responses to supplemental dietary crude protein intake. J Dairy Res 63, 209–222.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Black, AL, Anand, RS, Bruss, ML, Brown, CA & Nakagiri, JA (1990) Partitioning of amino acids in lactating cows: Oxidation to carbon dioxide. J Nutr 120, 700–710.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boirie, Y, Fauquant, J, Rulquin, H, Maubois, JL & Beaufrere, B (1995) Production of large amounts of [13C]leucine-enriched milk proteins by lactating cows. J Nutr 125, 92–98.Google ScholarPubMed
Bruss, ML & Black, AL (1982) Estimation of plasma histidine flux in cows. J Nutr 112, 574–583.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Carruthers, VR & Neil, PG (1997) Milk production and ruminal metabolites from cows offered two pasture diets supplemented with non-structural carbohydrate. NZ J Agric Res 40, 513–521.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Champredon, C, Debras, E, Mirand, PP & Arnal, M (1990) Methionine flux and tissue protein synthesis in lactating and dry goats. J Nutr 120, 1006–1015.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chaves das Neves, HJ & Vasconcelos, AMP (1987) Capillary gas chromatography of amino acids, including asparagine and glutamine: sensitive gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric and selected ion monitoring gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric detection of the N,O(S)-tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives. J Chromatogr 392, 249–258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crompton, LA & Lomax, MA (1993) Hindlimb protein turnover and muscle protein synthesis in lambs: a comparison of techniques. Br J Nutr 69, 345–358.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Egan, AR, MacRae, JC & Lamb, CS (1983) Threonine metabolism in sheep. 1. Threonine catabolism and gluconeogenesis in mature Blackface wethers given poor quality hill herbage. Br J Nutr 49, 373–383.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gibb, MJ, Ivings, WE, Dhanoa, MS & Sutton, JD (1992) Changes in body components of autumn-calving Holstein-Friesian cows over the first 29 weeks of lactation. Anim Prod 55, 339–360.Google Scholar
Hammond, AC, Huntington, GB, Reynolds, PJ, Tyrrell, HF & Eisemann, JH (1987) Absorption, plasma flux and oxidation of L-leucine in heifers at two levels of intake. J Anim Sci 64, 420–425.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kolver, ES, Carruthers, VR, Neil, PG, De Veth, MJ, Jansen, EBL & Phipps, DE (1999) Amino acid supply to the small intestine of dairy cows fed pasture. Proc NZ Soc Anim Prod 59, 180–183.Google Scholar
Lacey, JM & Wilmore, DW (1990) Is glutamine a conditionally essential amino acid? Nutr Rev 48, 297–309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lapierre, H, Bernier, JF & Dubreuil, P (1999) The effect of intake on protein metabolism across splanchnic tissues in growing beef steers. Br J Nutr 81, 457–466.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lapierre, H, Pelletier, G, Ouellet, DR, Lobley, GE & Bernier, JF (1996) Measuring leucine flux and protein metabolism with carbon-13 isotope in growing cattle. Can J Anim Sci 76, 259–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lescoat, P, Sauvant, D & Danfær, A (1996) Quantitative aspects of blood and amino acid flows in cattle. Reprod Nutr Dev 36, 137–174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Liu, SM, Lobley, GE, MacLeod, NA, Kyle, DJ, Chen, XB & Ørskov, ER (1995) Effects of long-term protein excess or deficiency on whole-body protein turnover in sheep nourished by intragastric infusion of nutrients. Br J Nutr 73, 829–839.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lobley, GE (1992) Control of the metabolic fate of amino acids in ruminants: a review. J Anim Sci 70, 3264–3275.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lobley, GE (1993) Protein metabolism and turnover. In Quantitative Aspects of Ruminant Digestion and Metabolism. pp. 313–339. [Forbes, JM and France, J, editors]. Wallingford, UK: CAB International.Google Scholar
Lobley, GE, Connell, A & Buchan, V (1987) Effect of food intake on protein and energy metabolism in finishing steers. Br J Nutr 57, 457–465.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lobley, GE, Connell, A, Revell, DK, Bequette, BJ, Brown, DS & Calder, AG (1996) Splanchnic-bed transfers of amino acids in sheep blood and plasma, as monitored through use of multiple U-13C-labelled amino acid mixture. Br J Nutr 75, 217–235.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lopez, HW, Moundras, C, Morand, C, Demigné, C & Rémésy, C (1998) Opposite fluxes of glutamine and alanine in the splanchnic area are an efficient mechanism for nitrogen sparing in rats. J Nutr 128, 1487–1494.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mackle, TR, Dwyer, DA & Bauman, DE (1999) Effects of branched-chain amino acids and sodium caseinate on milk protein concentration and yield from dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 82, 161–171.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mackle, TR, Dwyer, DA, Ingvartsen, KL, Chouinard, PY, Ross, DA & Bauman, DE (2000) Evaluation of whole blood and plasma in the interorgan supply of free amino acids for the mammary gland of lactating dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 83, 1300–1309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacRae, JC, Walker, A, Brown, D & Lobley, GE (1993) Accretion of total protein and individual amino acids by organs and tissues of growing lambs and the ability of nitrogen balance techniques to quantitate protein retention. Anim Prod 57, 237–245.Google Scholar
National Research Council (2001) In Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle.7th revised ed, Washington, DC: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Pacheco-Rios, D, Mackenzie, DDS & McNabb, WC (2001) Comparison of two variants of the Fick principle for estimation of mammary blood flow in dairy cows fed two levels of dry matter intake. Can J Anim Sci 81, 57–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pacheco-Rios, D, McNabb, WC, Cridland, S, Barry, TN & Lee, J (1998) Arterio-venous differences of amino acids across the mammary gland of cows fed fresh-pasture at two levels of dry matter intake during early lactation. Proc NZ Soc Anim Prod 58, 98–101.Google Scholar
Pacheco-Rios, D, Treloar, BP, Lee, J, Barry, TN & McNabb, WC (1999) Amino acid utilisation by the mammary gland: Whole blood versus plasma free amino acid pools. Proc NZ Soc Anim Prod 59, 62–65.Google Scholar
Ratkowsky, DA, Evans, MA & Alldredge, JR (1993) Cross-over Experiments: Design, Analysis, and Application. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker, Inc.Google Scholar
Reeds, PJ (1992) Isotopic estimation of protein synthesis and proteolysis in vivo. In Modern Methods in Protein Nutrition and Metabolism. pp. 249–273. [Nissen, S, editor]. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Riis, PM (1988) Nitrogen balance, amino acid flux rates and rates of whole body protein synthesis in lactating and in pregnant goats at different energy intakes. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr 60, 86–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SAS Institute Inc. (1996) SAS User's Guide 6.12. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.Google Scholar
Stern, MD, Santos, KA & Satter, LD (1985) Protein degradation in rumen and amino acid absorption in small intestine of lactating dairy cattle fed heat-treated whole soybeans. J Dairy Sci 68, 45–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wohlt, JE, Clark, JH, Derrig, RG & Davis, CL (1977) Valine, leucine and isoleucine metabolism by lactating bovine mammary tissue. J Dairy Sci 60, 1875–1882.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed