A study of physiological differences between low and high breeding index friesian heifers : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Science at Massey University

Friesian heifers from two genetic lines divergently selected for milk production were compared in their metabolic physiology and endocrinology in three experiments. Studies were conducted on the heifers, which were matched for age and bodyweight, in order to identify metabolic differences which might be used as genetic markers for lactational performance. In the first experiment diurnal variation in plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations and responses to metabolic challenges of glucose, insulin, glucagon, and adrenaline, were measured in 6 high breeding index (HBI) and 6 low breeding index (LBI) heifers aged 6 to 8 months and fed 75% or 125% maintenance energy requirement (MER). Basal plasma concentrations of creatinine, GH and NEFA were not influenced by selection line. Plasma insulin concentrations after feeding were greater in the LBI than in the HBT heifers. Relative to the concentrations which existed at the time of feeding, the elevation in plasma glucose concentration was greater in the HBI than in the LBI heifers from 7 to 9 hours after feeding. Elevation in plasma urea concentration on feeding was greater in HBI than in LBI heifers. Urea concentrations then declined more rapidly in the selected animals during the postprandial period such that concentrations were lower in HBI than in LBI heifers from 11 till 23 hours after feeding. Responses to metabolic challenge were generally not different between the lines and there were no line x allowance interactions except in the NEFA response to adrenaline where HBI heifers responded more than LBI heifers at 75% MER but not at 125% MER. When compared with heifers fed 125% MER, those fed 75% MER exhibited: increased plasma creatinine concentrations; a smaller increment in plasma urea concentration after feeding; greater plasma NEFA levels in the post-prandial period; lower insulin concentrations during a 24 hour sampling period; decreased insulin release and glucose removal after glucose administration; greater plasma NEFA concentrations and reduced glucose clearance after insulin injection; enhanced glycogenolytic responses to glucagon and adrenaline; and increased lipolytic responses to glucagon and adrenaline. In the second experiment, 8 HBI and 8 LBI Friesian heifers aged 6 months were treated with progesterone by Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) devices and fed 70% MER. Initially, basal plasma metabolite and hormone concentrations were measured in samples collected during a 6 hour intensive sampling period. In the following period, the line x dose interactions of intravenous glucose (0, 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg lwt) and insulin (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 ug/kg lwt) on metabolic responses were evaluated in a split-plot design carried out over a period of 8 days. Basal plasma urea and creatinine concentrations were marginally greater (P of the injected glucose), in the HBI than in the LBI heifers. Insulin challenge resulted in slightly higher plasma insulin concentrations in the HBI heifers than in the LBI heifers. No significant interactions of line x dose in plasma metabolites and hormone concentrations were observed after either glucose or insulin challenges. The third experiment compared 8 HBI and 8 LBI yearling heifers, fed 140% MER and receiving progesterone treatment, with respect to: diurnal patterns of plasma concentrations of metabolites and hormones; volume of body fluid distribution; ingestive behaviour in terms of rate of eating; responses of lipolysis and glycogenolysis to adrenaline challenge at various times after feeding and fasting; metabolic responses to fasting and refeeding; and pancreatic insulin release and glucose disappearance after glucose challenges administered before and after the withdrawal of progesterone-impregnated CIDRs. Diurnal plasma concentrations of glucose, were greater, but plasma urea and creatinine levels were lower, in HBI than in LBI heifers. Plasma glucagon levels at the onset of feeding/refeeding were only briefly greater in HBI heifers than in LBI heifers. The volumes of urea distribution, plasma distribution (as measured by Evans blue (T1824) distribution), and the extracellular fluid distribution (as measured by thiocyanate (NaSCN) distribution) were similar between the HBI and LBI heifers. In general, rate of eating was similar between the lines over the experiments except it was greater in the LBI than in the HBI heifers on the first day of measurement. In addition, the eating rate fell substantially in the LBI but not in HBI heifers 28 hours after the withdrawal of progesterone-CIDRs. Lipolytic response to adrenaline was minimal 7 hours after feeding, and maximal after 72 hours of fasting, whereas the reverse was true for glycogenolytic responses. There were significant line x time of challenge interactions in pre-challenge plasma NEFA concentrations, HBI heifers fasted for 72 hours exhibiting greater elevation in plasma NEFA concentration. Time of challenge relative to feeding/fasting did not, however, influence the magnitude of selection line effects on lipolytic or glycogenolytic responses. Basal plasma insulin concentration and pancreatic insulin release after glucose challenges were greater in HBI than the LBI heifers, irrespective of the presence or absence of progesterone-impregnated CIDRs. Although basal plasma glucose concentration was greater in the HBI than in the LBI heifers, glucose disappearance was similar between the two lines following glucose challenge in this experiment. There was a significant line x progesterone presence/withdrawal interaction in the pre-challenge plasma glucose concentrations. Plasma glucose concentrations were greater in the HBI than in the LBI heifers 46 hours after the removal of progesterone CIDRs but not prior to removal of the CIDRs. These results demonstrated that genetic variation exists in nitrogen, lipid, glucose and insulin metabolism between the HBI and the LBI heifers. Appropriate experimental conditions such as different feeding regimens, use of metabolic challenges and control of oestrous activity, alone or in combination, were useful means of maximising these genetic differences. While these metabolic characteristics have the potential to become markers for dairy merit, their genetic relationships with milk production should be confirmed in further studies and these traits should also be evaluated in progeny tested bulls before their wide use in dairy cattle breeding