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

Abstract

Two hours after 50 to 100 g of coffee were given intraruminally as a drench or through an established fistula, there was a marked increase in plasma levels of free fatty acids 1 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 10 g 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 5 g of USP grade caffeine, a low solubility product, was injected intraruminally as a suspension in 30 ml 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.