Articles

This review focusses on metabolic changes in early lactation dairy cows with respect to hepatic gluconeogenesis and potential avenues to optimize metabolic adaptation. During transition, there is a negative energy balance, decreased dry matter intake, significant amounts of lipid mobilization and greater demands for glucose is required for lactose synthesis, all these activites put a lot of stress on the liver. Therefore, hepatic gluconeogenesis is critical to ensure glucose homeostasis and productive performance. Propionate, lactate, glycerol and glucogenic amino acids are important glucogenic precursors that, together regulates the enzymatic activity and play a significant role in hepatic glucose production. The review also covers nutritional interventions to enhance metabolic resilience and minimize transition associated disorders, including propylene glycol, rumen-protected nutrients, probiotics and precision feeding strategies. Furthermore, the regulation of hormonal mechanisms, pathways involved in sensing nutrients and epigenetic modifications of gluconeogenic genes are dscussed. Nutrigenomics and the use of metabolomics markers combined with the advent of AI-driven precision nutrition could offer future possibilities for health and sustainability in dairy production during transition.