Effect of Oral Administration of Propylene Glycol on Serum Glucose Concentrations in Periparturient Dairy Cows

Abstract

The effect of oral administration of propylene glycol on serum glucose concentrations was studied in 10 dairy cows. At -1, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days from parturition, 6 cows were orally received 300 ml of propylene glycol/cow per day (treated group), and 4 cows were received 300 ml of water/cow per day (control group). At each interval, blood samples were collected from all cows at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours following propylene glycol or water drenching. Serum was harvested and stored until determination of glucose concentrations. Compared with the concentration at 0 hour, serum glucose concentrations after drenching were increased for treated cows, but not for the control cows. For treated cows, serum glucose concentrations at 1, 2, 4, and 5 hours were higher than the concentration at 0 hour. Serum glucose concentrations of treated cows at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours were higher than those concentrations in control cows. These results indicated that cows drenched with propylene glycol had increased serum glucose concentrations, which would help these cows to improve their energy demands during a period of negative energy balance. In addition, propylene glycol administration could alleviate the mobilization of fat store, which would prevent cows from any consequences of intensive lipolysis.