Effect of dietary flax seed and oil on milk yield, gross composition, and fatty acid profile in dairy cows: A meta-analysis and meta-regression

Abstract

Several experiments were conducted over the past few years to evaluate the feeding value of flax seed and oil in dairy cow diets. The current meta-analysis and meta-regression was undertaken to assess the overall effect of different forms of flax, as a source of trienoic (cis-9,cis-12,cis-15 18:3) fatty acids (FA), on lactation performance and on transfer efficiency of its constituent n-3 FA from diet to milk fat. Comparisons were first conducted with nonsupplemented controls or with diets containing either saturated (mainly 16:0 or 18:0 or both), monoenoic (mainly cis-9 18:1), or dienoic (mainly cis-9,cis-12 18:2) FA. Results indicate that supplementing flax seed and oil decreased dry matter intake, as well as actual and energy-corrected milk yield without affecting the efficiency of utilization of dietary dry matter or energy as compared with nonsupplemented iso-energetic controls. When compared with the other 3 types of dietary fat evaluated, flax rich in trienoic FA supported a yield of energy-corrected milk similar to supplements rich in saturated, monoenoic, or dienoic FA. Greater milk fat concentration and feed efficiency were observed with saturated supplements. However, milk fat concentration and yield were lower with dienoic FA than with flax supplements. Further analyses were conducted to compare the effect of different forms of flax oil, seed, or fractions of seed. Among the 6 categories evaluated, mechanically processed whole seed (rolled or ground) allowed the greatest yield of energy-corrected milk and the best feed efficiency when compared with free oil, intact or extruded whole seed, protected flax, and flax hulls. Feeding protected flax and flax hulls allowed the greatest milk fat concentration of cis-9,cis-12,cis-15 18:3. Moreover, the greatest transfer efficiencies of this fatty acid from diet to milk were recorded with the same 2 treatments, plus the mechanically processed whole seed. These results make this last category the most suitable treatment, among the 6 flax forms evaluated, to combine optimum lactation performance and protection of flax constituent cis-9,cis-12,cis-15 18:3.

Effects of abomasal infusion of essential fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid on performance and fatty acid, antioxidative, and inflammatory status in dairy cows

“…In particular, the EFA treatment did not reduce DMI, even at the highest dosage administered in this study. In contrast, previous studies indicated a DMI depression with linseed, either administered via feed and passing the rumen or infused into the abomasum (Leduc et al, 2017;Moallem, 2018). The hypophagic effect known for PUFA probably did not occur in the current study because of the relatively low dosages of linseed oil applied.…”

The Role of Oils Addition to Diets and its Effect on Ration Consumption and Production Profomance Recovery of Dairy Goats

“…Also, the later authors cleared that increasing milk harvest which shown with sunflower oil may be due to the great of total volatile fatty acids (tVFA) concentration in rumen of goats fed diets added with sunflower oil, and consequent increased value of Nutilization efficiency, as well as an increased conversion and availability of nutrients for milk synthesis. Recently, these results are corresponding with the findings of other studies by Khalifa et al (2016) and Leduc et al (2017). They found more milk production with diet contained oils that may be due to efficient anaerobic fermentation, which increase organic matter and fibers digestibility and then improve milk yield.…”

The effect of oak tannin (Quercus robur) and hops (Humulus lupulus) on dietary nitrogen efficiency, methane emission, and milk fatty acid composition of dairy cows fed a low-protein diet including linseed

“…Considerable evidence exists that milk fatty acid composition can be modulated by adding oilseeds to the diet of dairy cows (Chilliard et al, 2007). In addition to being effective in limiting CH 4 production by dairy cows, several meta-analyses have shown the ability of oilseeds and particularly linseed to improve the nutritional composition of milk fatty acids (Glasser et al, 2008;Leduc et al, 2017;Meignan et al, 2017).…”