Stimulation of gluconeogenesis

Gluconeogenesis is the limiting factor of glucose availability in early lactation.

Feeding a high proportion of easily digestible carbohydrates promotes gluconeogenesis. It stimulates the production of propionate in the rumen, the most important glucoplastic substrate ².

Pharmacologically, propionate production in the forestomach can also be promoted by oral administration of ionophore antibiotics ⁷ or certain essential oils ¹³. The use of monensin is regulated in the EU and allowed only in animals at risk of ketosis and on veterinary prescription.

Glucoplastic substrates such as propionate, propylene glycol (1,2-propanediol) or glycerin are added to the feed for the prevention of ketosis or administered in cases of ketosis as a drench. The further conversion of these glucoplastic substrates to glucose can be improved by supplementing vitamin B12 and biotin, which act as cofactors of important gluconeogenetic enzymes (B12: methylmalonyl-CoA mutase ⁹, biotin: propionyl-CoA carboxylase and pyruvate carboxylase ²⁶). Cows treated with Butaphosphan & Vitamin B12 showed a significant reduction of β‑hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations compared to their placebo-treated counterparts ⁷⁸.

Glucocorticoids have little impact on gluconeogenesis in cattle, but exert a positive effect by limiting glucose uptake and utilization of certain tissues (glucose-sparing effect) ¹⁴.