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The relationship between high intake of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates and the subsequent response on plasma glucose, insulin sensitivity and clinical signs of laminitis in dairy heifers was studied. Ten dairy heifers with a mean body weight of 275 kg (SD 13.8 kg), were parallelly subjected (n=5/treatment group) to either a total mixed ration (TMR) low (LC, 130 g DM/kg) or high (HC, 480 g DM/kg) in cassava (starch). Results showed that mean DM intake, rectal temperature, heart rate, respiration rate and rumen contractions were not affected by the dietary treatments. All heifers fed the HC-TMR had diarrhea while all the heifers fed the LC-TMR had a pasty, soft consistency of feces. Three of the 5 heifers fed the HC-TMR displayed clinical signs of acute laminitis compared to none in the LC-TMR group. Mean postprandial rumen pH values of heifers fed the HC-TMR, but not the LC-TMR, were lower than 6.0 at all the time points measured. The reduction in rumen pH was associated with 49% greater concentration of total VFA and a concomitant shift from acetic to propionic acid and increased rumen lactic acid concentrations. Moreover, the HC-TMR caused greater plasma insulin levels and insulin resistance. The three laminitis animals had 1.9 greater basal plasma insulin values and a 46% lower insulin sensitivity values, respectively compared to their non-laminitis counterparts fed the HC-TMR. Insulin sensitivity was shown to be associated with clinical signs of laminitis in heifers only when plasma insulin concentrations were greater than ~ 700 pmol/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The efficacy of hydrate sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) to reduce the concentrations of free lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rumen fluid of cows was investigated. Six, rumen-fistulated crossbred Holstein, non-pregnant, dry cows were randomly assigned to three experimental rations in a study with a replicated 3×3 Latin square design with 28-d periods. During the first 20 days of each experimental period, cows were offered concentrate (5.4kg dry matter; DM) without HSCAS and rice straw ad libitum. On day 21, cows were fasted for 12h prior to commencement of a 7-d measurement period during which time cows were offered concentrate (10.5kg DM) containing either 0, 5 or 10g/kg of HSCAS and 1.5kg DM rice straw. Rumen fluid was collected on days 1, 3 and 7 during the measurement period for analysis of pH, LPS and volatile fatty acids (VFA). Supplemental HSCAS did not affect the pH or the concentrations of total and individual VFA in the ruminal fluid. Mean postprandial rumen pH was reduced to values below 5.6 at all times. Rumen LPS concentrations significantly increased from day 1 to 7 during each measurement period with values ranging from 4489 to 104,000EU/mL but they were not significantly affected by supplemental HSCAS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]