Productive Performance, Milk Composition and Milk Fatty Acids of Goats Supplemented with Sunflower and Linseed Whole Seeds in Grass Silage-Based Diets

Abstract

<jats:p>The objective of this study was to determine productive performance, milk composition and milk fatty acids (FA) of goats supplemented with sunflower and linseed whole seeds in grass silage-based diets. Nine Alpine goats were grouped in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design (n = 3), that included three 21-d periods. Treatments were based on grass silage offered ad libitum and a concentrate mixture supplemented with either 40 g/d of Megalac-R® (control), 80 g/d of sunflower seed (SF), or 80 g/d of linseed (LS). Dry matter intake (1292 ± 14.0 g/d) and digestibility (g/kg) of dry matter (640 ± 32.1), organic matter (668 ± 32.4), neutral detergent fiber (628 ± 41.4) and acid detergent fiber (567 ± 60.9) was not affected by treatments (p &gt; 0.05). Treatment did not affect milk fat yield (39.9 ± 1.24 g/d), protein content (4.5 ± 0.03 %) and protein yield (34.7 ± 1.22 g/d). Compared to control, SF and LS, decreased C16:0 (28.2 vs. 23.1 and 22.4 g/100 g), and increased total C18:1 (24.1 vs. 27.6 and 28.4 g/100 g) respectively. Overall, SF and LS resulted an effective strategy for altering the FA composition of goat´s milk towards a healthier profile for humans without deleterious effects on animal performance.</jats:p>

Production Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Milk Composition of Dairy Ewes Supplemented with Crushed Sunflower Seeds and Sunflower Seed Silage in Corn Silage-Based Diets

“…This probably favored a more efficient use of the ammonia originated by the rumen degradable protein of the SF and SFS diets. Our results also coincide with a positive N balance reported in lactating does fed whole sunflower seeds or linseed [24].…”

“…Both SF and SFS had no effect on DM (1124 ± 85.7 g/d) and OM (1781 ± 182 g/d) intakes (Table 3), which partly agrees with what was previously reported both in lactating sheep [20,22,23] and goats [24,25], when animals were fed with either sunflower seeds or sunflower oil. Gomez-Cortés et al [23] obtained a rise in DM intake when sheep were supplemented with 2% DM sunflower oil in a diet, with a diet based on 50% forage and 50% concentrate; however, contrary to the present results, Ivan et al [21], reported a decrease in DMI with low-and high-forage diets with two protein levels of crushed sunflower seed supplementation.…”

“…In goats fed on a corn silage-based diet and supplemented with sunflower oil, Bernard et al [ 29 ] reported a rise in milk yield compared to their control treatment (no additional oil). However, in goats fed on a grass silage-based diet supplemented with whole seeds of sunflower or linseed, Vargas-Bello-Pérez et al [ 24 ] did not find changes in milk yield and milk composition. Based on those studies, in the present study, the forage to concentrate ratio was around 57:47, and the lack of differences in milk production are partly explained by the amount of dietary forage that was supplied to the animals as ad libitum corn silage.…”

Effect of Supplementing Dairy Goat Diets With Rapeseed Oil or Sunflower Oil on Performance, Milk Composition, Milk Fatty Acid Profile, and in vitro Fermentation Kinetics

“…The lack of effects on productive traits, such as milk yield, body conditions score, and body weight may be due to the relatively small amount of oil supplementation used in this study (4% DM). This agrees with previous studies where goats were fed with calcium soaps from palm, canola, and safflower oils ( 4 ) and when goats were supplemented with sunflower and linseed whole seeds ( 31 ). In those studies, oilseeds fed as calcium soaps or as whole seeds did not promote negative effects on overall animal productive traits and treatments were offered at <5% DM inclusion.…”

A Brief Update on the Challenges and Prospects for Goat Production in Mexico

“…Recently, some research efforts have been made to improve dietary energy supply in dairy goat diets. For example, in central Mexico, whole seeds from different oilseeds, such as sunflower and linseed, have been included in grass silage-based diets [ 36 ], while calcium soaps from canola and safflower oils [ 37 ] have also been included in goat diets without negative effect on overall nutrient intake and digestibility.…”