Colostrum and milk fatty acids of dairy cows as influenced by extruded linseed supplementation during the transition period

Abstract

M. 2009. Colostrum and milk fatty acids of dairy cows as influenced by extruded linseed supplementation during the transition period. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 89: 383Á392. The effects of precalving fat sources on fatty acid (FA) profile of colostrum and milk and on metabolic parameters in early lactation were determined. Two fat supplements (target: 21% fat, DM basis) fed at 1.8 kg DM d (1 were compared: Control (C; containing fractionated palm oil rich in 16:0) and Linseed (L; containing extruded linseed, rich in 18:3n-3). Sixteen dry Holstein (n07) and Brown Swiss (n 09) cows were assigned to four groups receiving the supplements from 5 wk pre-to 4 wk post-calving in different sequences: CC, CL, LC and LL. Treatments did not affect metabolic parameters, milk yield or composition. Linseed supplementation increased proportions of 18:0, 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 in colostrum and milk (except 18:1 for colostrum). The highest n-3 FA proportion was observed in milk of LL cows. For most 16 and 18 FA, a fast response occurred within the first week of lactation for cows that switched treatments over calving. Carry-over to milk of 18:3 and its biohydrogenation products from linseed fed precalving was low. Pre-calving feeding strategies to favour incorporation of these FA into early lactation milk were not successful, but the reasons for this failure remain unclear.

Effect of supplementing fat to pregnant nonlactating cows on colostral fatty acid profile and passive immunity of the newborn calf

“…Similarly, C18:2 cis-9,trans-11 was greater (P < 0.01) in ESS-fed compared with SAT-fed dams. These increases in C18:1 trans isomers agree with increases in colostrum produced by dairy cows supplemented with extruded linseed compared with a palm oil-based product (Santschi et al, 2009). Increased concentrations of trans isomers of unsaturated monoene and diene FA detected in colostrum of dams fed ESS indicates that the Ca salt product fed was not completely ruminally inert, allowing some of the C18:2n-6 to be metabolized by ruminal microorganisms (Lundy et al, 2004).…”

“…Prepartum supplementation of fat, which contained mainly 18-carbon FA (Table 1), increased the proportion of C18:0 in colostrum (9.7 vs. 8.3% of total FA, P < 0.01). Likewise, C18:0 was greater in colostrum from cows fed a fat supplement enriched in unsaturated 18-carbon FA compared with C16:0 (Santschi et al, 2009). This result reflects the partial biohydrogenation of unsaturated 18-carbon FA in the ESS supplement by ruminal microorganisms.…”

Fatty Acid Profile and Enterolactone Content of Early and Commercial Milk of Dairy Cows Supplemented with Flaked Flaxseed during the Dry Period

“…Our study demonstrated that the carry-over effect on the milk profile of C18:2, C18:3 n-3, and C20:5 n-3 (EPA) was significantly higher in FLAX diet than in the CTR one on the first sampling at 4th day of lactation. Present results are in agreement with early studies reporting that extruded or crushed linseeds (2.5% or 3.3% DM) supplemented on transition period increased 18:3 n-3, and total n-3 concentrations in early milk, but did not exert any effect after 7 weeks of lactation [32,37]. In contrast with our results, a study [15] demonstrated that the carry-over effects persisted for 7 weeks of lactation (10 weeks after the withdrawal of extruded flaxseed supplementation, 2.9% DM).…”

Effect of Soy Lecithin Supplementation in Beef Cows before Calving on Colostrum Composition and Serum Total Protein and Immunoglobulin G Concentrations in Calves

“…Furthermore, in the present study, colostrum of supplementation cows had significantly higher level of caproic acid (C6:0; p = 0.005), caprylic acid (C8:0; p = 0.010), pentadecanoic acid (C15:0; p = 0.033) and stearic acid (C18:0; p = 0.021). These results are consistent with observations recorded by Santschi et al [34] who indicated higher proportions of C6:0, C8:0, and C18:0 in cow's colostrum supplemented with extruded linseed rich in α-linolenic acid. Generally, C4:0 to C15:0 fatty acids are synthesized de novo from acetate, which is a final product of fibre fermentation [35].…”