Performance, metabolic, and endocrine responses of periparturient Holstein cows fed 3 sources of fat

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of feeding diets containing fat supplements enriched in either saturated fatty acids (n = 10), Ca salts of trans-octadecenoic fatty acids (tFA, n = 10) or Ca salts of safflower oil fatty acids (SFL, high in linoleic acid, n = 9) on performance, metabolic, and endocrine responses of periparturient Holstein cows. Dietary treatments were initiated at approximately 28 d before calculated calving dates and continued through 49 d postpartum. Blood samples for metabolite and hormone analyses were collected weekly beginning 1 wk before estimated calving date through 7 wk postpartum. Incorporation of tFA or SFL into the peripartum diet had no detectable effects on body weight or body condition score. Cows fed the SFL-enriched diet produced less milk fat and established a positive energy balance sooner after calving than those fed the tFA supplement. Analysis for individual fatty acids resulted in increased concentrations of trans 18:1 fatty acid and conjugated linoleic acid isomers in milk fat from cows supplemented with SFL. Across weeks, the average nonesterified fatty acids concentration in plasma was lower in cows fed the SFL-enriched diet than in those consuming the tFA-supplemented diet. Mean concentrations of plasma glucose, insulin-like growth factor-I, and progesterone were greater in cows fed the SFL-enriched diet compared with those fed the saturated fatty acid-supplemented diet. Feeding fat supplements that can suppress milk fat production during the early postpartum period may help minimize negative energy balance, reduce adipose tissue mobilization, and improve circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and progesterone. Whether the SFL supplement would have similar effects without a decrease in milk fat production remains to be determined and warrants further investigation.

Effects of flaxseed, raw soybeans and calcium salts of fatty acids on apparent total tract digestibility, energy balance and milk fatty acid profile of transition cows

“…Zachut et al (2010) reported higher EB when cows were fed WF than CON (2.3 and 0.8 Mcal/day, respectively); however, when evaluating EB nadir (the lowest value of EB), the authors observed −7.7 and −3.6 Mcal/day for WF and CON diet, respectively. Caldari-Torres et al (2011) also observed greater EB during postpartum for animals fed a diet rich in C18:3 FA when compared with the other diets, with the values obtained during the 7 th week of lactation (2.10, −0.10 and 4.70 Mcal/day for diets rich in saturated, C18:2 and C18:3 FA, respectively). Nonetheless, despite all cows presented EB nadir during the 1 st week of lactation, in the current study, cows supplemented with FA presented higher EB than those cows fed CON, reaching positive EB in the 9 th , 6 th , 5 th and 6 th week of lactation for CON, WF, WS and CSFA diets, respectively.…”

Effects of short- and long-chain fatty acids on the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase and other lipogenic genes in bovine mammary epithelial cells

“…Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) were dissolved in n-hexanes and quantified using a GC-2010 Plus gas chromatograph (Shimadzu, Kyoto, Japan) using a CP-Sil 88 WCOT fused silica column (100 m 3 0.25 mm i.d. 3 0.2 mm film thickness; Varian Inc., Lake Forest, CA, USA) according to our previous published methods (Caldari-Torres et al, 2011). The FAME were identified by comparison of retention times with known FAME standards (Caldari-Torres et al, 2011).…”

“…3 0.2 mm film thickness; Varian Inc., Lake Forest, CA, USA) according to our previous published methods (Caldari-Torres et al, 2011). The FAME were identified by comparison of retention times with known FAME standards (Caldari-Torres et al, 2011).…”

Effect of incremental levels of crude degummed canola oil on milk progesterone, plasma luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones of primiparous Holstein–Friesian cows in a pasture-based system

“…Studies conducted on the effect of fat supplementation on reproductive hormones in dairy cows have been conflicting and inconsistent [11]. For instance, some studies reported increased P4 concentrations in cows [12,13], while others either found no change [8] or a decrease in P4 concentrations [14]. Some studies have also shown that LH and FSH were influenced by fat supplementation, while in others, they were unaltered or decreased [10,11].…”