Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells in fed-batch cultures produce several metabolic byproducts derived from amino acid catabolism, some of which accumulate to growth inhibitory levels. Controlling the accumulation of these byproducts has been shown to significantly enhance cell proliferation. Interestingly, some of these byproducts have physiological roles that go beyond inhibition of cell proliferation. In this study, we show that, in CHO cell fed-batch cultures, branched chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism contributes to the formation of butyrate, a novel byproduct that is also a well-established specific productivity enhancer. Further, the other byproducts of BCAA catabolism, isovalerate and isobutyrate, which accumulate in CHO cell fed-batch cultures also enhance specific productivity. Additionally, the rate of production of these BCAA catabolic byproducts was negatively correlated with glucose uptake and lactate production rates. Limiting glucose supply to suppress glucose uptake and lactate production, like in case of fed-batch cultures employing HiPDOG technology, significantly enhances BCAA catabolic byproduct accumulation resulting in higher specific productivities.