Effect on Feed Intake of Infusing Sodium Propionate or Sodium Acetate into a Mesenteric Vein of Cattle

Solutions containing sodium propionate or sodium acetate were infused into a mesenteric vein of eight steers in order to examine the effect of increasing the entry rate of these metabolites on feed intake. Infusion of propionate inhibited feed intake to varying degrees, but acetate infused at equivalent rates had no effect. Rate of entry of propionate into the visceral circulation may be a physiological mechanism for controlling feed intake in cattle, but it is mainly effective when the animal has eaten close to its voluntary maximum intake.