Temporal effects of ruminal propionic acid infusion on feeding behavior of Holstein cows in the postpartum period

The objective of this study was to determine the temporal effects of intraruminal infusion of propionic acid at the initiation of meals on feeding behavior of cows in the postpartum period. Propionic acid derived from ruminal fermentation can reduce energy intake of dairy cows. The suppression of appetite by propionic acid is likely caused by a signal related to the hepatic oxidation of fuels. Greater propionate flux to the liver is expected to result in faster oxidation of acetyl coenzyme A, which can stimulate satiety and reduce feed intake. Therefore, the rate of propionate supply to the liver, within the timeframe of meals, might be an important limitation to feed intake. Our hypothesis was that faster rate of propionate infusion during meals would decrease meal size and feed intake by decreasing the time required to stimulate satiety within a meal. Six ruminally cannulated, multiparous Holstein cows in the postpartum period were used in a duplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment balanced for carryover effects. Treatments included control (no infusion) or 1.25 mol of propionic acid infused over 5 min (FST) or 15 min (SLW) at each meal. Infusions were initiated at the conditioned meal at feeding (1200 h) and were triggered at each spontaneous meal for 22 h. Contrary to our hypothesis, SLW decreased meal size 29% (0.87 vs. 1.23 kg of dry matter) compared with FST, and FST decreased meal frequency 27% (8.5 vs. 11.2 per d) compared with SLW. Dry matter intake was similar between FST and SLW, but propionic acid decreased dry matter intake 46% compared with control. A potential explanation is that FST resulted in greater liver bypass of propionate compared with SLW, extending anaplerosis of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, hepatic oxidation of acetyl coenzyme A, and satiety over a longer time after meals.