BACKGROUND: Fasting is an alternative method to induce
anorexia. OBJECTIVES: The biochemical factors of liver and
serum and clinical signs were measured and documented in five
non-lactating, non-pregnant cows following eight days of fasting.
METHODS:Five crossbred, non-lactating, and non-pregnant
cattle were used in this study. They were fasted for 8 days_ total
food deprivation; however, they had free access to water. Liver
biopsies were carried out one day before food deprivation (day
0) and 8 days after food deprivation by ultrasound-guided
biopsy. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein before
and during fasting. The concentrations of triglyceride (TG), total
lipids, glycogen, phospholipids, and total protein in liver and
NEFA, BHBA, TG, total cholesterol, glucose, total lipid, APO
A1, and APO B in blood serum were measured and compared.
RESULTS: The results of this study showed that fasting for 8 days
reduces respiratory rate by 52% and heart rate by 12.5% and has
no significant effect on rectal temperature. The concentrations of
the liver triglyceride (TG) and glycogen significantly increased
(p=0.046) and decreased (p=0.007) on day 8, respectively. There
were no significant differences in the content of liver
phospholipids (p=0.83), total lipids (p=0.29), and total protein
(p=0.23). The serum concentrations of NEFA and BHBA
increased significantly (p=0.008) at the end of fasting period. No
significant differences in the concentrations of serum TG
(p=0.057), total cholesterol (p=0.93), glucose (p=0.108), total
lipid (p=0.27), APO A1 (p=0.762), and APO B (p=0.92) were
noticed on days 0 and 8. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the
present study showed that fasting, like anorexia (as a result of
diseases), induces fat mobilization from adipose tissue in
response to the induced negative energy balance.