Plasma Glucose Concentration, Diurnal Profile and Utilization Rates in Growing Goats

Abstract

Plasma glucose concentration, diurnal profile, and utilization rates were studied in growing goats for duration of six months. Plasma glucose concentration was measured by the hexokinase method. The glucose utilization rates were determined by single intrajugular infusion of ¹⁴C-glucose. During the growing period of six months plasma glucose concentration dropped   from 7.9 mM   to 4.5 mM.   Initiation of   hay feeding facilitated   the drop in   plasma glucose concentration. The glucose utilization rate declined from 60 mmol/d.kg b.w1 to 27 mmol/d.kg b.w⁷⁵ during the same period.  The glucose utilization rates were 20 mmol/d.kg b. w.1    and 14 mmol/d.kg b.w⁷⁵ in 24 h fasted and 48 h fasted goats respectively. The glucose utilization rate was positively correlated with their corresponding plasma glucose concentration (r= 0.79). The variation of plasma glucose diurnal profile was slight and ranged from 4.20mM to 4.86 mM during the 24 h period. Three conclusions are made from this study. These are: glucose metabolism is of equal importance in young goats as it is in mature goats, glucose utilization rate is an indicator of amount of available fuel (energy) supply in the body and determination of plasma glucose in goats may be a useful parameter to indicate the stage of growth and in formulation of appropriate weaning periods