Separation of protein and lactose intake over meals dissociates postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations and reduces postprandial insulin responses in heavy veal calves.

The present study examined, at identical daily nutrient intakes, the impact of separating protein and lactose intakes across two daily meals on the metabolic and endocrine status in heavy veal calves. Calves were assigned to one of six degrees of separating protein and lactose over the two meals (termed nutrient synchrony, SYN 1-6; 6 calves/treatment). They were fed the protein-rich (P-)meal and the lactose-rich (L-)meal at 06:00 and 18:00h, respectively, or vice versa.

Postprandial blood hormone and metabolite concentrations influenced by feeding frequency and feeding level in veal calves.

This study hypothesized that increased feeding frequency (FF) decreases problems with glucose homeostasis seen at high feeding levels (FL) in heavy veal calves. Effects of FF and FL on hormone and metabolite concentrations were studied in 15 heavy veal calves fed once (FF1; at 12:00), twice (FF2; at 12:00 and 24:00) or four times daily (FF4; at 06:00, 12:00, 18:00 and 24:00). In period 1, all calves were fed at a low FL (FL(low); 1.

Ruminal drinkers: endocrine and metabolic status and effects of suckling from a nipple instead of drinking from a bucket.

In ruminal drinkers (RD) ingested milk is transported into the rumen and not into the abomasum. Because this is followed by changes in digestibility and absorption, we have tested whether this is associated with postprandial metabolic and endocrine changes. Unweaned, bucket-fed calves (one RD, two controls) were studied on seven farms.

Effects of colostrum feeding and glucocorticoid administration on insulin-dependent glucose metabolism in neonatal calves.

Colostrum feeding and glucocorticoid administration affect glucose metabolism and insulin release in calves. We have tested the hypothesis that dexamethasone as well as colostrum feeding influence insulin-dependent glucose metabolism in neonatal calves using the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. Newborn calves were fed either colostrum or a milk-based formula (n=14 per group) and in each feeding group, half of the calves were treated with dexamethasone (30 microg/[kg body weight per day]).

Ontogenesis of mRNA levels and binding sites of hepatic alpha-adrenoceptors in young cattle.

Catecholamines affect hepatic glucose production through (alpha- and beta2-) adrenoceptors (AR). We studied mRNA abundance and binding of hepatic alpha-AR in pre-term (P0) calves and in full-term calves at day 0 (F0), day 5 (F5) and day 159 (F159) to test the hypothesis that gene expression and numbers of hepatic alpha-AR in calves are influenced by age and associated with beta2-AR and selected traits of glucose metabolism. mRNA levels of alpha1- and alpha2-AR were measured by real time RT-PCR.