The objective of the present research was to determine the insulin response of the glucose and fatty acid metabolism in dry dairy cows with a variable body condition score (BCS). Ten pregnant Holstein Friesian dairy cows (upcoming parity 2 to 5) were selected based on BCS at the beginning of the study (2mo before expected parturition date). During the study, animals were monitored weekly for BCS and backfat thickness and in the last 2wk, blood samples were taken for determination of serum nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration. Animals underwent a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp test in the third week before the expected parturition date. The hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp test consisted of 4 consecutive insulin infusions with increasing insulin doses: 0.1, 0.5, 2, and 5mIU/kg per minute. For each insulin infusion period, a steady state was defined as a period of 30min where no or minor changes of the glucose infusion were necessary to keep the blood glucose concentration constant and near basal levels. During the steady state, the glucose infusion rate [steady state glucose infusion rate (SSGIR) in µmol/kg per minute] and NEFA concentration [steady state NEFA concentration (SSNEFA) in mmol/L] were determined and reflect the insulin response of the glucose and fatty acid metabolism. Dose response curves were created based on the insulin concentrations during the steady state and the SSGIR or SSNEFA. The shape of the dose response curves is determined by the concentration of insulin needed to elicit the half maximal effect (EC50) and the maximal SSGIR or the minimal SSNEFA for the glucose or fatty acid metabolism, respectively. The maximal SSGIR was negatively associated with variables reflecting adiposity of the cows (BCS, backfat thickness, NEFA concentration during the dry period, and absolute weight of the different adipose depots determined after euthanasia and dissection of the different depots), whereas the EC50 of the glucose metabolism was positively associated with these variables. These results reflect a decreased insulin sensitivity and a decreased insulin responsiveness of the glucose metabolism in overconditioned dry dairy cows. The minimal SSNEFA and the EC50 of the fatty acid metabolism were not associated with variables reflecting adiposity of the cows, meaning that the insulin response of the fatty acid metabolism was not associated with the level of fat accumulation in dry dairy cows. Additionally, within individual cows, the EC50 of the glucose metabolism was higher than the EC50 of the fatty acid metabolism, meaning that the response of the fatty acid metabolism occurs at lower insulin concentrations compared with the response of the glucose metabolism. It can be concluded that a negative association exists between the level of fat accumulation in pregnant dairy cows at the end of the dry period and the insulin response of the glucose metabolism.

The objective of the present retrospective cohort study was to evaluate potential associations between environmental factors and dam characteristics, including level of milk production during gestation, and insulin traits in newborn Holstein calves. Birth weight and gestational age of the calves at delivery were determined. On the next day, heart girth, wither height and diagonal length of both the calves and their dams were measured. Parity, body condition score and age at calving were recorded for all dams. For the cows, days open before last gestation, lactation length (LL), length of dry period (DP) and calving interval were also calculated. The magnitude and shape of the lactation curve both quantified using the MilkBot model based on monthly milk weights, were used to calculate the amount of milk produced during gestation. Using the same procedure, cumulative milk production from conception to drying off (MGEST) was calculated. A blood sample was collected from all calves (n=481; 169 born to heifers and 312 born to cows) at least 5 h after a milk meal on day 3 of life to measure basal glucose and insulin levels. In addition, an intravenous glucose-stimulated insulin secretion test was performed in a subset of the calves (n=316). After descriptive analysis, generalized linear mixed models were used to identify factors that were significantly associated with the major insulin traits (Insb, basal insulin level; QUICKI, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index; AIR, acute insulin response; DI, disposition index) of the newborn calves. The overall average birth weight of the calves was 42.7 ± 5.92 kg. The insulin traits were significantly associated with gender and season of birth when data of all calves were analyzed. In addition, the insulin traits in calves born to cows were significantly associated with MGEST, DP and LL. The Insb was estimated to be higher in calves born to the cows having passed a higher MGEST (P=0.076) and longer DP (P=0.034). The QUICKI was estimated to be lower in calves born to the cows having passed a higher MGEST (P=0.030) and longer DP (P=0.058). Moreover, the AIR (P=0.009) and DI (P=0.049) were estimated to be lower in male compared with female calves. Furthermore, the AIR (P=0.036) and DI (P=0.039) were estimated to be lower in calves born to cows having passed a longer LL. The decisive effects of MGEST, DP and LL in cows on the insulin traits of their calves may provide a basis for developing managerial interventions to improve metabolic health of the offspring.

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that overconditioning in dairy cows at the end of the dry period leads to infiltration of fat and alterations of the insulin secretory capacity of the pancreas. Pregnant Holstein Friesian dairy cows were selected based on body condition score (BCS) at the start of the dry period. Body condition score varied between cows to have optimal conditioned (2.5 < BCS ≤3.5, n = 5) and overconditioned (3.5 < BCS ≤5, n = 5) cows. All animals underwent an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) at an average of 260 d of gestation to measure the pancreatic insulin secretory capacity and assess peripheral insulin sensitivity regarding glucose metabolism. Eight days after the IVGTT, animals were slaughtered. The pancreas was dissected and weighed and tissue samples were taken for histological analysis. Results revealed that overconditioning in dairy cows led to fat infiltration in the pancreas and an increase in size of pancreatic islets expressed relative to the total area of pancreatic tissue. In addition, results revealed a positive correlation between serum fatty acid concentration and peak insulin concentration and area and number of pancreatic islets expressed relative to the total area of pancreatic tissue. The IVGTT revealed that overconditioned animals have a higher insulin secretory capacity of the pancreas, as demonstrated by higher peak insulin concentration, higher acute insulin response to glucose, and higher area under the curve (AUC) for insulin compared with optimal conditioned cows. A higher AUC for glucose during the first 60 min following administration of the glucose bolus in overconditioned cows indicates an insulin-resistant state regarding glucose metabolism. Our results suggest that the pancreas of overconditioned dairy cows at the end of gestation compensates for the concomitantly elevated level of peripheral insulin resistance by greater secretion of insulin.

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