Metabolic Effects of Intraruminal Administration of 1,3-Butanediol or Tributyrin in Lactating Goats

Acute effects of dietary 1,3-butanediol and tributyrin on concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, and insulin in plasma were compared in lactating goats. In Experiment 1, glucose was decreased by intraruminal administration of 75 or 150 g of 1,3-butanediol or by 84 or 168 g of tributyrin. Tributyrin caused transient hyperglycemia immediately after administration. β-Hydroxybutyrate was increased in a dose-dependent manner by tributyrin and increased independently of dose by 1,3-butanediol. Tributyrin, but not 1,3-butanediol, caused large increases of insulin in plasma. In Experiment 2, 75 g of 1,3-butanediol or 84 g of tributyrin administered intraruminally decreased glucose, whereas 73 g of butyric acid (pH 5.6) increased glucose compared with water or 25.6 g of glycerol. All treatments produced transient hyperglycemia immediately after administration. Tributyrin, butyric acid, or 1,3-butanediol greatly increased β-hydroxybutyrate compared with administration of water or glycerol. Concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate in both experiments increased more slowly for 1,3-butanediol than for tributyrin. Both 1,3-butanediol and tributyrin decreased glucose and increased β-hydroxybutyrate. Because 1,3-butanediol does not stimulate increases of insulin in plasma, it may be more desirable than tributyrin for inducing metabolic changes characteristic of lactation ketosis.