Effects of prepartum supplementation of linoleic and mid-oleic sunflower seed on cow performance, cow reproduction, and calf performance from birth through slaughter, and effects on intake and digestion in steers1

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of sunflower seed supplements with varying fatty acid profiles on performance, reproduction, intake, and digestion in beef cattle. In Exp. 1, 127 multiparous spring-calving beef cows with free-choice access to bermudagrass hay were individually fed 1 of 3 supplements for an average of 83 d during mid to late gestation. Supplements (DM basis) included 1) 1.23 kg/d of a soybean hull-based supplement (control treatment); 2) 0.68 kg/d of linoleic sunflower seed plus 0.23 kg/d of the control supplement (linoleic treatment); and 3) 0.64 kg/d of mid-oleic sunflower seed plus 0.23 kg/d of the control supplement (oleic treatment). During the first 62 d of supplementation, the BW change was 11, 3, and -3 kg for cows fed the control, linoleic, and oleic supplements, respectively (P < 0.001). No difference in BW change was observed during the subsequent period (-65 kg, P = 0.83) or during the entire 303-d experiment (-31 kg, P = 0.49). During the first 62 d of supplementation, cows fed sunflower supplements tended (P = 0.08) to lose more body condition than cows fed the control diet, but BCS was not different (P > 0.22) for any subsequent measurement. At the beginning of the breeding season, the percentage of cows exhibiting luteal activity was greater for cows fed the control diet (43%; P = 0.02) than for cows fed either linoleic (20%) or oleic (16%) supplementation; however, first-service conception rate (67%; P = 0.22) and pregnancy rate at weaning (92%; P = 0.18) were not different among supplements. No differences were detected in calf birth (P = 0.46) or weaning BW (P = 0.74). In Exp. 2, 8 ruminally cannulated steers were used to determine the effects of sunflower seed supplementation on forage intake and digestion. Treatments (DM basis) included 1) no supplement; 2) a soybean hull-based supplement fed at 0.29% of BW/d; 3) whole linoleic sunflower seed fed at 0.16% of BW/d; and 4) whole high-oleic sunflower seed fed at 0.16% of BW/d. Hay intake was not influenced (P = 0.25) by supplement (1.51% of BW/d); however, DMI was greatest (P < 0.01) for steers fed the soybean hull-based supplement (1.93% of BW/d). Sunflower seed supplementation reduced (P < 0.01) NDF and ADF digestibility while increasing (P < 0.01) apparent CP and apparent lipid digestibility. In conclusion, whole sunflower seed supplementation resulted in reduced cow BW gain during mid to late gestation, but this reduction did not influence subsequent cow BW change, pregnancy rate, or calf performance.

Effects of supplements differing in fatty acid profile to late gestational beef cows on cow performance, calf growth performance, and gene expression

“…However, in the current study, greater plasma concentrations of ALA in CON calves, and EPA and DHA in PUFA calves were consistent with corresponding concentrations in their dams. No difference in birth BW of progeny is consistent with previous studies that supplemented ruminant dams with isocaloric and isonitrogenous rumen-protected saturated/monounsaturated fatty acids or PUFA [2,11], sun ower seeds high in LA [44,45], and sa ower seeds, raw soybeans, or sun ower seeds [32] during late gestation.…”

Effects of supplementing calcium salts of polyunsaturated fatty acids to late-gestating beef cows on performance and physiological responses of the offspring1

“…No calf mortality was observed from birth to weaning; hence, weaning rate and proportion of male calves weaned were similar between treatments (P ≥ 0.16; data not shown), whereas the latter is known to directly affect weaning BW (Koger and Knox, 1945). Others have also reported similar birth and weaning BW in calves from cows supplemented or not with PUFA during gestation (Hess et al, 2002;Banta et al, 2006;Banta et al, 2011). Collectively, calving and weaning results indicate that supplementing late-gestating beef cows with PUFA did not impact offspring birth BW as well as growth from birth to weaning compared with CON-supplemented cohorts.…”

Effect of supplementing essential fatty acids to pregnant nonlactating Holstein cows and their preweaned calves on calf performance, immune response, and health

“…Mean birth weights were 40.2, 41.5, and 41.0 kg for calves born from dams fed control, SFA, and EFA diets, respectively and were not affected by prepartum diet (Table 5). Similarly, feeding supplements differing in FA profile but providing similar amounts of energy to prepartum grazing cross-bred beef cows did not influence birth weights of calves (Banta et al, 2011).…”