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Relationship between Postprandial Plasma Volatile Fatty Acids, Glucose and Insulin Levels in Sheep Fed Different Feeds

Department of Animal Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, B.C.

Postprandial changes in the concentrations of plasma volatile fatty acids (VFA), glucose and insulin were studied at 2-hour intervals in mature wethers fed barley, hay or an equal mixture of barley and hay. The plasma constituents which showed an increase after feeding were insulin, glucose and propionate for sheep fed barley; glucose, propionate, acetate and isobutyrate for sheep fed hay; and glucose, acetate, propionate, butyrate and insulin for sheep fed barley and hay. Simple and multiple regression analyses were carried out relating plasma glucose and VFA to plasma insulin within each dietary regime. The simple regression R squared values that were significant for each of the feeds were as follows: barley and hay–glucose, 50.4%, acetate 22.6%, propionate 26.1%, butyrate 59.2%; hay-isobutyrate 22.0%; barley-butyrate 59.1%. These results and the results of multiple regression analyses indicated that butyrate and isobutyrate were the most important circulating VFA with respect to their relationship to plasma insulin levels in this study. The results are discussed in relation to the regulation of plasma insulin levels in ruminants.

KEY WORDS: • plasma volatile fatty acids • plasma insulin • plasma glucose

Manuscript received 3 July 1972.