Glucagon, insulin, growth hormone, and some blood metabolites during energy restriction ketonemia of lactating cows.

Six Holstein cows were sampled hourly for 24 h for plasma concentrations of hormones and metabolites. Cows were sampled at about 2 wk prepartum, at 3 wk postpartum, during a ketonemia induced by feed restriction to 54% of ad libitum intake, and after a recovery period. They were fed long alfalfa hay postpartum. The onset of lactation caused concentrations of growth hormone, glucagon, acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and total amino acids of plasma to increase and those of glucose and insulin to decrease. Feed restriction exacerbated changes at 3 wk postpartum except for total amino acids and glucagon, which both decreased to prepartal concentrations. Resumption of ad libitum feeding caused most hormones and metabolites to return to prepartum concentrations. Diurnal variations in response to feeding twice daily were most evident for growth hormone, free fatty acids, and total amino acids. The 3-wk postpartum and ketonemic periods gave the greatest responses to feeding. Molar ratios of insulin to glucagon and insulin to growth hormone tended to decrease at 3 wk postpartum and decreased further in ketonemia, demonstrating hormonal adaptations to decreased energy intake during lactation. Lactation ketosis results from more than severe energy deficit.