Postpartum supplemental fat, but not maternal body condition score at parturition, affects plasma and adipose tissue fatty acid profiles of suckling beef calves1

Abstract

Three-year-old Angus x Gelbvieh beef cows, which were nutritionally managed to achieve a BCS of 4 +/- 0.07 (479 +/- 36 kg of BW) or 6 +/- 0.07 (580 +/- 53 kg of BW) at parturition, were used in a 2-yr experiment (n = 36/yr) to determine the effects of maternal BCS at parturition and postpartum lipid supplementation on fatty acid profile of suckling calf plasma and adipose tissue. Beginning 3 d postpartum, cows within each BCS were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 treatments in which cows were all fed hay and either a low-fat (control) supplement or supplements with either high-linoleate cracked safflower seeds (linoleate) or high-oleate cracked safflower seeds (oleate) until d 61 of lactation. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric, and safflower seed supplements were provided to achieve 5% of DMI as fat. Total concentration of fatty acids in plasma did not differ (P = 0.48) due to maternal BCS at parturition. Percentage of 20:5n-3 in plasma tended (P = 0.06) to be greater for calves suckling cows with a BCS of 6 at parturition. No other differences (P = 0.12 to 0.99) were noted in calf plasma fatty acid profile due to maternal BCS at parturition. Likewise, no differences were detected for total fatty acid concentration (P = 0.88) in calf adipose tissue due to maternal BCS at parturition. Weight percentage of 14:1 (P = 0.001) was greatest in adipose tissue of calves suckling cows fed control and oleate; however, the percentages of 14:0, 15:0, 16:0, 16:1, 17:0, and 18:3n-3 were greater (P < 0.001) in adipose tissue from calves suckling cows fed control compared with calves suckling cows fed linoleate or oleate. Percentages of 18:0, 18:1trans-11, 18:2n-6, and cis-9, trans-11 CLA were greater (P < 0.001) in adipose tissue from calves suckling cows fed linoleate compared with calves suckling cows fed control and oleate. Calves suckling cows fed oleate had greater (P < 0.001) percentages of 18:1trans-9, 18:1trans-10, and 18:1cis-9 in adipose tissue than calves suckling cows fed control or linoleate. Calf plasma and adipose tissue fatty acid profiles were reflective of milk fatty acids. Because fatty acids play an important role in metabolic regulatory functions, changes in milk fatty acid profile should be considered when beef cows are fed lipid supplements.

Camelina meal and crude glycerin as feed supplements for developing replacement beef heifers1

“…Mach et al (2009) reported that rumen molar proportions of butyrate were not affected in Holstein bulls receiving increasing concentrations of glycerin (0,4,8,and 12% of concentrate DM), and this is consistent with the lack of differences in serum concentrations of BHBA between heifers fed the control and crude glycerin supplements in the present study. Scholljegerdes et al (2004) observed greater ruminai molar proportions of butyrate in heifers fed a corn-and soybean meal-based (low-fat) supplement compared with heifers fed a high-linoleate or oléate safflower seed supplement to provide fatty acids at 5% of dietary DM, Feeding the same diets as used in the study of Scholljegerdes et al, (2004), Lake et al, (2006) observed that lactating postpartum beef cows fed the low-fat control supplement had greater plasma concentrations of BHBA than cows fed the high-linoleate or high-oleate safflower seed supplement. However, providing soybean oil at 1,75% of dietary DM did not affect the ruminai molar proportion of butyrate (Brokaw et al,, 2002), Thus, the lack of differences observed for serum concentrations of BHBA between heifers fed control and camelina meal supplements was expected because the camehna meal provided only 1,33% of DM as fatty acids.…”

“…Plasma samples (from EDTA-coated tubes) were lyophilized (Genesis SQ 25 Super ES Freeze Dryer, The Virtis Co., Gardiner, NY) and ground with a mortar and pestle, and fatty acid methyl esters were prepared as described by Lake et al (2006). Fatty acid methyl esters of hay and supplements were prepared in a single-step direct transesterification using methanolic hydrochloric acid as catalyst (Weston et al, 2008).…”

Flaxseed Treatments to Reduce Biohydrogenation of α‐Linolenic Acid by Rumen Microbes in Cattle

“…FA were quantified using a Dietary ingredients were analyzed for fatty acids via direct transesterification with methanolic-HCl [33,34]. In vitro fermentation samples were lyophilized (Freezemobile 25 SL, The Virtis Co., Gardiner, NY), ground with a mortar and pestle, and analyzed for fatty acids [35]. …”

Effects of postpartum dietary fat and body condition score at parturition on plasma, adipose tissue, and milk fatty acid composition of lactating beef cows1

“…Plasma samples were lyophilized (Genesis SQ 25 Super ES Freeze Dryer, The Virtis Co., Gardiner, NY), ground with a mortar and pestle, and fatty acid methyl esters were prepared as described by Lake et al (2006c). Milk samples were lyophilized and ground with a mortar and pestle.…”