Linseed oil supplementation to dairy cows fed diets based on red clover silage or corn silage: Effects on methane production, rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, N balance, and milk production

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of linseed oil (LO) supplementation to red clover silage (RCS)- or corn silage (CS)-based diets on enteric CH4 emissions, ruminal fermentation characteristics, nutrient digestibility, N balance, and milk production. Twelve rumen-cannulated lactating cows were used in a replicated 4×4 Latin square design (35-d periods) with a 2×2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Cows were fed (ad libitum) RCS- or CS-based diets [forage:concentrate ratio 60:40; dry matter (DM) basis] without or with LO (4% of DM). Supplementation of LO to the RCS-based diet reduced enteric CH4 production (-9%) and CH4 energy losses (-11%) with no adverse effects on DM intake, digestion, ruminal fermentation characteristics, protozoa numbers, or milk production. The addition of LO to the CS-based diet caused a greater decrease in CH4 production (-26%) and CH4 energy losses (-23%) but was associated with a reduction in DM intake, total-tract fiber digestibility, protozoa numbers, acetate:propionate ratio, and energy-corrected milk yield. Urinary N excretion (g/d) decreased with LO supplementation to RCS- and CS-based diets, suggesting reduced potential of N2O emissions. Results from this study show that the depressive effect of LO supplementation on enteric CH4 production is more pronounced with the CS- than with the RCS-based diet. However, because of reduced digestibility with the CS-based diet, the reduction in enteric CH4 production may be offset by higher CH4 emissions from manure storage. Thus, the type of forage of the basal diet should be taken into consideration when using fat supplementation as a dietary strategy to reduce enteric CH4 production from dairy cows.

Short-term effects of soybean oil supplementation on performance, digestion, and metabolism in dairy cows fed sugarcane-based diets

“…However, the results of Bateman and Jenkins (1998) should be compared with caution, because they restricted DMI to 85% of the ad libitum intake, which can decrease k p of pdNDF, favoring its digestion (Van Soest, 1994). Supplementing linseed oil at 4% of the diet DM, Benchaar et al (2015) observed a decrease in NDF digestibility in corn silage-based diets, unlike red clover silage diets. Although those authors did not report the diets pdNDF concentrations, this result indicates that characteristics of forage fiber can determine the effects of fat supplementation on fiber digestion.…”

“…For instance, adding rapeseed oil at 6.6% DM, Ben Salem et al (1993) observed a lower decrease in grass hay NDF digestibility when compared with corn silage. Incorporating linseed oil at 4% DM, Benchaar et al (2015) observed a decrease in Short-term effects of soybean oil supplementation on performance, digestion, and metabolism in dairy cows fed sugarcane-based diets NDF digestibility in corn silage diets but not in red clover silage diets. Bateman and Jenkins (1998) included soybean oil (SBO) up to 8% DM in diets with Bermuda grass hay and did not observe any effects on fiber digestibility.…”

Effect of soya bean oil supplementation and forage type on methane production and fibre digestibility using the in vitro gas production system

“…Although we did not observe significant interaction between forage species and SBO inclusion for CH 4 production, this effect was expected when IVpdNDFD decreased, mainly for MS and SC (Getachew et al., ). Previous in vivo studies demonstrated the effects of vegetable oils on CH 4 production interacting with forage species (Benchaar et al., ; Chung et al., ). In the study of Chung et al.…”

Effect of incremental amounts of camelina oil on milk fatty acid composition in lactating cows fed diets based on a mixture of grass and red clover silage and concentrates containing camelina expeller

“…Nevertheless, camelina expeller or meal has been reported to result in marginally greater decreases in DMI compared with provision of the same amount of lipid as camelina oil (Halmemies-Beauchet-Filleau et al, 2011) or whole seeds (Hurtaud and Peyraud, 2007). Furthermore, the intake of diets based on RCS has been shown to be unaffected or marginally decreased in response to plant oil (rapeseed, sunflower seed, camelina seed, or linseed) supplements (Halmemies-Beauchet-Filleau et al, 2011;Benchaar et al, 2015), with the implication that feeding diets containing a mixture of grass silage and RCS is not the sole explanation for the relatively high decrease in DMI on the 6% CO treatment.…”

“…The larger decrease in DMI to CO in the present experiment might have been related to the inclusion in concentrates fed separately at specified time points, leading to a more sudden release of unsaturated FA in the rumen compared with adding CO as part of a TMR (Bayat et al, 2015). Decreases in DMI to linseed oil supplementation (from 4 to 6% of diet DM) have been shown to be much more pronounced when concentrates were fed separately (−26%; Chilliard et al, 2009), rather than as part of a TMR (from no change to −9%; Bell et al, 2006;Benchaar et al, 2015).…”