Jp. Mcnamara et al., LIPID-METABOLISM IN ADIPOSE-TISSUE OF COWS FED HIGH-FAT DIETS DURING LACTATION, Journal of dairy science, 78(12), 1995, pp. 2782-2796
The adaptations of fat synthesis in adipose tissue to lactational stat
e, rate of milk production, and dietary fat intake were determined for
dairy cows. Lipogenesis and esterification were determined in cows of
average or high genetic merit for milk production and fed either a co
ntrol TMR of corn silage, alfalfa, and concentrate (2.5% fat; 1.47 Mca
l of NE(L)/kg); a TMR with whole cottonseeds replacing 12% of the conc
entrate (4.4% fat; 1.49 Meal NE(L)/kg); or a TMR with 12% cottonseeds
and 2.7% of Ca salts of fatty acids (6.0% fat; 1.53 Meal of NE(L)/kg).
Dietary treatments began on d 17 of lactation and continued for 288 d
. Lipogenesis and esterification decreased equally from 15 d prepartum
to 15 d postpartum in all groups. Cows of high merit had lower rates
of lipogenesis and esterification at d 60 than did low merit cows but
had higher rates of lipogenesis at d 120. Rates of lipogenesis were de
creased by dietary fat treatments. Esterification rates were lowest on
the intermediate fat TMR and highest on the highest fat TMR. Lipogene
sis was decreased logarithmically by dietary fat intake; this effect w
as greater as lactation progressed. Adipocyte size and body fat mass d
ecreased during early lactation and then increased for all treatment g
roups. Supplemental dietary fat reduces de novo synthesis of fatty aci
d, and this effect increases as lactation progresses.