Effect of Casein and Propionate Supply on Mammary Protein Metabolism in Lactating Dairy Cows

The effects of casein (CN) and propionate (C3) on mammary AA metabolism were determined in 3 multiparous Holstein cows fitted with both duodenal and ruminal cannulas and used in a replicated Youden square with six 14-d periods. Casein (743 g/d in the duodenum) and C3 (1,041 g/d in the rumen) infusions were tested in a factorial arrangement. For each period, L-1-(13)CLeu (d 11) and NaH13CO3 (d 13) were infused into a jugular vein, and blood samples were taken from the carotid artery and the mammary vein to determine Leu kinetics and net uptake of AA. Both CN and C3 treatments separately increased milk protein concentration and yield. With CN there was a general response in mammary protein metabolism, involving increases in Leu net uptake (30%), the uptake:output ratio (8%), protein synthesis (11%), secretion in milk protein (21%), and oxidation (259%). In contrast, C3 treatments tended to increase only Leu in milk protein (7%) and, when in combination with CN, to reduce Leu used for protein synthesis (5%). Across all treatments, most Leu uptake by the mammary gland was accounted for as Leu in milk or oxidized, and the Leu balance was therefore achieved without involvement of either net peptide use or production. Mammary uptake of group 1 AA increased to match milk output with all infusions. In contrast, mammary uptake of group 2 AA exceeded output to a greater extent with CN than with C3 infusions, whereas the increment in uptake of group 3 AA increased with C3 treatments. Overall, these data suggest that different mechanisms operate to improve milk protein production when either protein or energy is supplied.