Gal. Meijer et al., FREE AMINO-ACIDS IN PLASMA AND MUSCLE OF HIGH-YIELDING DAIRY-COWS IN EARLY LACTATION, Journal of dairy science, 78(5), 1995, pp. 1131-1141
Free AA in plasma and muscle were monitored in 36 dairy cows from 2 wk
before until 15 wk after parturition. Cows were kept indoors and fed
individually. The AA concentrations in plasma from 6 to 15 wk of lacta
tion were compared with precalving concentrations. Plasma concentratio
ns of Met, Phe, Glu, and Gln decreased by 16, 24, 25, and 25%, respect
ively. The ranking of the essential AA according to their decrease in
plasma corresponded to the order in which they generally appear to be
limiting for milk protein synthesis. The decrease of Glu and Gln in pl
asma exceeded that of the essential AA and contrasted strongly with al
l other nonessential AA. The change in the AA profile in muscle from p
regnancy to lactation resembled that described for the catabolic state
in mammals and suggests that muscle protein was degraded for supply o
f AA to the udder, despite excess protein and energy supply 15 wk into
lactation. In muscle, the decrease in the pool of free Gln exceeds 25
% and is higher than for any other AA. These observations support our
hypothesis that Gln is potentially limiting for milk protein synthesis
in the high yielding dairy cow.