Insulin and glucagon secretory patterns during propionate and arginine tolerance tests in Japanese black cattle with growth retardation

To evaluate the energy condition of cattle with growth retardation, propionate (PTT) and arginine tolerance tests (ATT) were carried out. The insulin/glucagon concentration ratio immediately before PTT or ATT in the cattle with growth retardation was lower than in the control. In the growth-retarded cattle, insulin-AUCsub(0-120min) during PTT was lower than in the control, while glucagon- AUCsub(0-120min) was the same as in the control. Insulin-AUCsub(0-120min) during ATT in the cattle with growth retardation tended to be lower than in the control, whereas glucagon-AUCsub(0-120min) was the same. Therefore, insulin-AUCsub(0-120min)/glucagon-AUCsub(0-120min) in the cattle with growth retardation was lower than in the control during both tolerance tests. The growth-retarded cattle showed lower insulin/glucagon ratio similar to that found in starved and lactating cattle, a suggesting lack of energy.