Effects of Insulin, Bovine Somatotropin and their Interaction on Dry Matter Intake and Production Traits in Dairy Cows

From an economic standpoint, dairy producers rely on production of individual milk components rather than overall milk yield, with an increasing emphasis on milk protein production. The expression of the demand for milk protein is twofold: pressure from the consumer, who wants healthier food, and its impact on the producer, who sees remuneration for higher protein production. It appears that insulin is important in the regulation of milk protein synthesis. It is also apparent that the hormone somatotropin is key in the regulation of the effects of insulin. Therefore, in order to better understand the effects of insulin on production of milk and its components, it is crucial to study the interaction between insulin and somatotropin. Objective The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of exogenous insulin, bovine somatotropin (bST) and the interaction of both on dry matter intake, milk yield, milk component percentage and yield in lactating dairy cows.[...