Effects of diet forage-to-concentrate ratio and intake on balances of energy and nitrogen and portal-drained viscera (PDV), liver and kidney blood flow and O2 consumption were measured in seven growing beef heifers. Isonitrogenous pelleted diets containing approximately 75% alfalfa or 75% concentrate were fed daily as 12 equal meals every 2 h at two isoenergetic metabolizable energy intakes. A split-plot design was used, with 4 wk for adaptation to diet followed by 3-wk intake periods within 6-wk diet periods. Heifers consumed and digested less dry matter, energy and nitrogen when fed the 75% concentrate vs. 75% alfalfa diet at equal metabolizable energy. Heifers fed the 75% concentrate diet produced less heat energy and retained more tissue energy than when fed the 75% alfalfa diet. Blood flow for PDV, liver and kidneys increased with intake and was greater when heifers were fed the 75% alfalfa vs. 75% concentrate diet. Increased PDV and liver O2 uptake accounted for 44 and 72% of heat increment for the 75% concentrate and 75% alfalfa diets, respectively. Greater PDV uptake of O2 accounted for 72% of the decrease in tissue energy of heifers fed the 75% alfalfa vs. 75% concentrate diet at equal metabolizable energy.

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Effects of diet forage-to-concentrate ratio and intake on metabolism of nutrients by portal-drained viscera (PDV), liver and kidneys were measured in seven growing beef heifers. Isonitrogenous pelleted diets containing approximately 75% alfalfa or 75% concentrate were fed every 2 h at two metabolizable energy intakes. Greater intake increased net PDV removal of glucose and urea nitrogen and net PDV release of NH3N, alpha-amino nitrogen (AAN), alanine and lactate. Lower net PDV release of NH3N, liver removal of NH3N and AAN and liver release of urea nitrogen accompanied lower N intake and digestion in heifers fed the 75% concentrate vs. the 75% alfalfa diet. Lower net PDV glucose removal resulted in greater total splanchnic glucose release when heifers were fed the 75% concentrate vs. the 75% alfalfa diet. In addition, net PDV, liver and total splanchnic release of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) were lower when heifers were fed the 75% concentrate vs. the 75% alfalfa diet. Greater tissue energy retention in heifers fed the 75% concentrate vs. the 75% alfalfa diet at equal metabolizable energy intake accompanied differences in net PDV metabolism of glucose, NH3N and BOHB and liver metabolism of nitrogenous compounds, BOHB and lactate.

Net portal-drained visceral and hepatic flux of glucose, L-lactate, alpha-amino N, NH3N, urea N, glutamate, and glutamine were measured in four Holstein cows. Cows were fed a 60:40 corn silage: concentrate diet ad libitum and milked at 12-h intervals. Six to 16 d postpartum chronic catheters were established in hepatic portal, hepatic, and mesenteric veins and a carotid artery was elevated. Twelve Measurements of net flux, the mathematical product of blood flow (measured by p-aminohippurate dilution) and venous-arterial concentration difference, were obtained for each cow at hourly intervals during 1 d of wk 4 and 8 postpartum. Dry matter, N, and energy digestion trials began 1 to 2 d after blood sampling. Dry matter intake and milk yield averaged 15.6 and 32.2 kg/d. Portal-drained visceral blood flow averaged 80% of hepatic blood flow (2041 L/h). Net flux of NH3N, urea N, and alpha-amino N across portal-drained viscera represented 68, 54, and 51% of N apparently digested. There was net use of glucose by portal-drained viscera. Hepatic glucose production (3.1 kg/d) exceeded calculated mammary glucose requirements. Net hepatic removal of L-lactate, alpha-amino N, and NH3N represented 115, 43, and 101%, respectively, of their net absorption by portal-drained viscera. Net hepatic L-lactate and alpha-amino N removal could account maximally for 17.4 and 16.5% of glucose produced.

Ruminants absorb substantial amounts of ammonia nitrogen and very little glucose. Ammonia absorbed is removed by the liver and converted to urea, which can be recycled to the digestive tract and add to the pool of ammonia absorbed. When ammonia absorption and liver urea production are increased by changes in nitrogen intake, an associated increase in liver alpha-amino nitrogen removal has been observed. Reasons for the increase in liver removal of amino acids with greater ureagenesis are uncertain, but the aspartate/glutamate requirement of ureagenesis and the complex relationships between ureagenesis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glucogenesis, liver energy metabolism and redox state all may be involved. Amino acids represent potential sources of carbon for liver glucogenesis and precise reckonings of the contributions of amino acid carbon to glucogenesis are needed for ruminants fed differing diets. There is evidence for the involvement of peptides in liver nitrogen exchanges and amino acids in peptides represent a potential source of carbon for glucogenesis and nitrogen for ureagenesis. A number of endocrine factors have an impact on liver nitrogen metabolism in ruminants. Growth hormone decreases liver urea release and increases liver glutamate release.