Flaxseed supplementation improves fatty acid profile of cow milk

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of adding flaxseed or fish oil to the diet on the milk fatty acid profile of cows. The experiment was conducted in the summer of 2006 and involved 24 Friesian cows that were divided into 3 groups of 8 animals according to different type of fat supplementation: a traditional diet with no fat supplementation, a diet supplemented with whole flaxseed, and a diet supplemented with fish oil. Results suggested that whole flaxseed supplementation positively affects the milk fatty acid profile during summer. In particular, milk from cows receiving flaxseed supplementation showed a decrease in saturated fatty acid, an increase in monounsaturated fatty acid, and, together with the milk from fish oil-supplemented cows, an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acid content compared with milk from control cows. As expected, both fish oil and flaxseed supplementation increased the content of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in milk fat. The increased dietary intake of C18:3 in flaxseed-supplemented cows resulted in increased levels of milk C18:1 trans-11 and increased conjugated linoleic acid C18:2 cis-9,trans-11 by Delta(9)-desaturase activity. Milk from flaxseed-supplemented cows together with the high conjugated linoleic acid content was characterized by low atherogenic and thrombogenic indices, suggesting that its use has less detrimental effects concerning the atherosclerosis and coronary thrombosis risk associated with the consumption of milk and dairy products. In conclusion, flaxseed supplementation improves composition and nutritional properties of milk from cows milked during times of high ambient temperature.

Effects of Linseed Oil or Whole Linseed Supplementation on Performance and Milk Fatty Acid Composition of Lactating Dairy Cows

“…Milk from cows supplemented with LSO and WLS represented an improvement in the FA profile, with an increase in the MUFA, PUFA, and total UFA concentrations and a decrease in SFA concentration, resultant in increased indices of MUFA, PUFA and UFA to SFA. These results were in agreement with recent studies (Caroprese et al, 2010; Petit and Côrtes, 2010; Lerch et al, 2012), which reported similar changes in milk FA when flaxseed supplements were used.…”

“…Unchanged milk yield was also reported in the studies (Caroprese et al, 2010; Lerch et al, 2012; Weisbjerg et al, 2013). Moreover, dairy cows were supplemented with 13% extruded linseed increased milk yield (Mach et al, 2013).…”

Effects of diets containing grape seed, linseed, or both on milk production traits, liver and kidney activities, and immunity of lactating dairy ewes

“…Although milk yield did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) among the 4 dietary groups, numerically greater values were observed in the 2 groups fed linseed (LIN and MIX) than in CON and GS. This finding is in agreement with previous observations reported in several studies on dairy goats (Nudda et al, 2013), cows (Caroprese et al, 2010;Hurtaud et al, 2010), and ewes (Gómez-Cortés et al, 2009). In our study, the differences in ME content among diets did not correspond to numerical differences in milk yield because, as planned, ME supplied was similar among groups.…”

Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira spp.): A Potential Novel Feed Source For Pasture-Based Dairy Cows

“…Feeding diet containing rich sources of longchain MUFA and PUFA to lactating cows have been shown to modify the fatty acid profiles of milk in favour of the omega-3 and omega-6 [32,62]. Previous studies conducted using dietary algal supplements have reported an increase in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) [53], whereas Glover et al [54] found decreases in monounsaturated fatty acids in milk fat.…”