Fatty acid metabolism in liver of dairy cows fed supplemental fat and nicotinic acid during an entire lactation.

Liver biopsies from 38 multiparous Holstein cows were used to determine rates of peroxisomal beta-oxidation and total beta-oxidation of palmitate in liver homogenates and contents of total lipid, triglyceride, and glycogen during the lactation cycle. Cows were assigned to one of four diets from wk 4 through wk 42 of lactation: control, control plus nicotinic acid (12 g/d), supplemental fat, or supplemental fat plus nicotinic acid. Liver biopsies were obtained at wk 3 (covariate), 6, 12, 24, and 42 of lactation. Neither supplemental fat nor nicotinic acid affected palmitate oxidation in liver homogenates or liver composition. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation capacity and the ratio of peroxisomal to total beta-oxidation decreased from wk 3 to 12 and then increased at wk 42. Contents of total lipid and triglyceride decreased, and content of glycogen increased, from wk 3 to 12. Total oxidation capacity in liver homogenates was correlated negatively with total lipid and triglyceride in liver, yields of milk and solids-corrected milk (SCM), and plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), and was correlated positively with liver glycogen, dry matter intake (DMI), energy balance, and plasma glucose. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation was correlated negatively with yields of milk and SCM. The ratio of peroxisomal to total beta-oxidation was correlated positively with liver total lipid, liver TG, and plasma NEFA and negatively with DMI and energy balance. When only data from wk 3 postpartum were considered, both total and peroxisomal beta-oxidation were correlated negatively with hepatic concentrations of total lipid and TG. Peroxisomal beta-oxidation in liver of dairy cows is not affected by feeding supplemental fat or nicotinic acid during wk 4 to 42 of lactation but may be a part of the hepatic adaptations to negative energy balance.