Effects of dietary fish oil and alpha‐tocopherol supplementation on selected blood parameters and fatty acid profiles in mares and their foals

Abstract

The effects of fish oil (40 ml/day) supplementation, with or without synthetic all‐rac‐alpha‐tocopherol‐acetate (2,500 IU/day), during the last 65 days before expected parturition were investigated in 15 adult mares (553 ± 24 kg BW) and their foals. Mares were assigned to one of three diets: control (n = 5), control plus fish oil and alpha‐tocopherol (n = 4; FO + AT) or control with just fish oil (n = 6; FO). Blood samples were obtained from the mares before a 15‐day dietary adaptation period (T1) and from mares and foals the first (T2) and fifth (T3) days post‐partum. Colostrum was collected at T2 and milk at T3. Routine haematological, biochemical and alpha‐tocopherol analyses were undertaken on all blood samples. Fatty acid concentrations were determined in the foal serum and alpha‐tocopherol concentrations measured in the milk and colostrum. Diet had no effect on haematology or biochemistry in the mares. Alpha‐tocopherol concentrations were significantly higher at T2 & T3 in the FO + AT mares. Foal WBCs were higher in FO (11.33 ± 2.59 × 109/l), comparing to FO + AT and control groups (9.18 ± 1.24 × 109/l and 7.26 ± 1.03 × 109/l, respectively), at T3 (p < .05). There was no significant effect of the fish oil supplementation on the foal's serum fatty acid profile. In the FO + AT group, both colostrum and milk alpha‐tocopherol concentrations (2.56 ± 0.36 and 1.36 ± 0.22 µg/ml, respectively) were higher compared than those of the FO group (1.33 ± 0.39 and 0.72 ± 0.31 µg/ml, respectively; p < .05). Additional 2,500 IU/day of synthetic alpha‐tocopherol in the last 65 days of pregnancy increased alpha‐tocopherol concentrations in colostrum and milk and the foal's serum. 40 ml/day fish oil, however, did not significantly increase serum eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations in the foals.

Nutritional Quality and Socio-Ecological Benefits of Mare Milk Produced under Grazing Management

“…Overall, the content of α-tocopherol in mare milk is low (Table 1). However, two independent studies have demonstrated that α-tocopherol supplementation during pregnancy significantly affects mare milk and colostrum α-tocopherol contents [87,88], demonstrating the positive effect of dietary α-tocopherol intake in mare milk vitamin E levels. Despite all this, and due to limitations in the current knowledge regarding the contribution of pasture-based diets to fat-soluble vitamin contents in mare milk, further research is essential.…”

IV. Ikergazte. Nazioarteko ikerketa euskaraz. Kongresuko artikulu bilduma. Zientziak eta Natura Zientzia

“…Beste ikerketekin alderatuz, aztertutako esneak esne helduarekin antzekotasun handiagoa dauka eta E bitaminan aberatsagoa da; aldiz, A bitamina gutxi dauka. Abereen elikadurak eragin esanguratsua dauka behor esneko bitamina liposolubleen kopuruan (Bondo eta Jensen, 2011;Danyer eta Bilal, 2020;Kuhl et al, 2012), eta belar freskoa E bitaminan (Bondo eta Jensen, 2011;Danyer eta Bilal, 2020) aberatsa denez, gure laginetako E bitamina kopuru handia jandako belarraren ondorio izan daiteke. Bestalde, ekidoek β-karotenoa (A bitaminaren aurrekaria) A bitaminara transformatzeko gaitasun mugatua daukatela uste da (Álvarez et al, 2015), eta honek aurkitutako erretinol kopuru txikia azalduko luke.…”