Changes in Plasma Free Fatty Acids and Triglycerides in Dairy Cattle After Dosing with Coffee or Caffeine

Abstract

Two hours after 50 to 100g coffee were given intraruminally as a drench or through an established fistula, there was a marked increase in plasma levels of free fatty acids11The terms free fatty acids (FFA), unesterified fatty acids (UFA), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) are used interchangeably in the literature. in 14 of 18 cows and an increase in plasma triglycerides in all six cows on which this component was measured two hours post-treatment. Also, when 10g of caffeine citrate, a highly soluble form of caffeine, were infused intraruminally, there was an increase of 88.6% in plasma levels of free fatty acids compared with controls. However, there were no detectable changes in plasma levels of free fatty acids and triglycerides two hours after 5g of USP grade caffeine, a low solubility product, was injected intraruminally as a suspension in 30ml of water. The lack of a response to the USP grade caffeine appears to be associated with its low solubility. Feeding powdered instant coffee in the concentrate was not a practical means of getting caffeine into cattle, as they consumed an average of only 33.3% of their allowance. This resulted in low and highly variable intakes of coffee.