Effect of Prepartum Propylene Glycol Administration on Periparturient Fatty Liver in Dairy Cows

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Abstract
Plasma glucose concentration during late gestation was thought to be important for the development of fatty liver near parturition. Thirteen multiparous cows were given a 1-L oral drench of propylene glycol once daily beginning 10 +/- 3.6 d prepartum until parturition. Eleven control cows received a 1-L water drench. Plasma glucose increased following propylene glycol administration. Plasma NEFA concentration was 403 and 234 microM, and plasma insulin concentrations were .354 and .679 ng/ml, for control cows and cows treated with propylene glycol measured from 1 to 7 d prepartum. Plasma NEFA tended to be lower in cows treated with propylene glycol from 1 to 21 d postpartum. Prepartum propylene glycol administration reduced hepatic triglyceride accumulation by 32 and 42% at 1 and 21 d postpartum, respectively. Prepartum plasma BHBA was reduced during propylene glycol administration. Prepartum plasma glucose, NEFA, BHBA, and insulin were strongly correlated with liver triglyceride at 1 d postpartum (r = -.49, .45, .36, and -.49, respectively). Pre- and postpartum DMI were not affected by treatment. Milk production and composition measured through 21 d postpartum were not different between groups.