THE RESPONSE OF PLASMA INSULIN AND OTHER HORMONES TO INTRARUMINAL INFUSION OF VFA MIXTURES IN CATTLE

Abstract

A VFA mixture was formulated which, when infused into the rumen, duplicated the effects on plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations of feeding a hay and grain ration. When VFA were omitted serially from the mixture, only omission of propionate resulted in a major reduction in insulin concentration. Key words: Cattle, insulin, VFA