Adaptations of Glucose and Long-Chain Fatty Acid Metabolism in Liver of Dairy Cows during the Periparturient Period

Tremendous metabolic and endocrine adjustments must be made as dairy cows move from late gestation to early lactation. Requirements for glucose and metabolizable energy increase two- to threefold from 21 d before to 21 d after parturition. The liver must adapt quickly to provide the increased glucose needed to support high milk production, and to process the flood of nonesterified fatty acids taken up from extensive mobilization of adipose...