奶山羊初乳短、中链脂肪酸组成研究

以西北农林科技大学西农萨能羊原种场的产奶母羊为研究对象，采集35只2．5～5岁母羊分娩后1～5d的初乳和第5周常乳乳样，用气相色谱仪对乳中的短、中链脂肪酸组成含量进行测定。结果表明，初乳1～5d中，丁酸（C4：0）、己酸（C6：0）、辛酸（C8：0）、癸酸（C10：0）、月桂酸（C12：0）、肉豆蔻酸（C14：0）的含量存在极显著差异（P〈0．01），棕榈酸（C16：0）、硬脂酸（C18：0）、油酸（C18：1）和亚油酸（C18：2）的含量差异显著（P〈O．05）；而初乳与常乳中，辛酸（C8：0）、癸酸（C10：0）、月桂酸（C12：0）的含量差异极显著（P〈0．01），丁酸（C4：0）、棕榈酸（C16：0）含量差异显著（p〈0．05），其余脂肪酸含量差异均不显著（P〉0．05）。羊初乳中丁酸（C4：0）含量受产奶量影响不显著，处于相对稳定状态：其他短链脂肪酸和中链脂肪酸中棕榈酸（C16：0）的含量随产奶量增加而减少，长链脂肪酸随产奶量增加而增加。     

牛乳中体细胞数与脂肪酸含量的相关性分析

目的：研究牛乳中体细胞数（somatic cell count,SCC）对乳脂肪酸含量的影响。方法：采集474 头处于泌乳早期（30～100 d）的中国荷斯坦奶牛乳样,测定乳中SCC及各种脂肪酸单体的含量,分析乳中SCC对脂肪酸相对含量的影响及相关性。结果：SCC极显著影响乳中C4∶0、C16∶1、cis9, trans11-CLA和C18∶3 n3脂肪酸单体的含量（P＜0.01）。同时,随着乳中SCC的升高,多不饱和脂肪酸（polyunsaturated fatty acid,PUFA）的相对含量也显著增加（P＜0.05）。相关性分析显示乳中SCC与PUFA含量呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）,与短链脂肪酸含量呈显著负相关（P＜0.05）。结论：研究结果初步揭示了乳中SCC与乳脂肪酸相对含量的关系,为进一步揭示SCC对牛乳品质的影响提供了依据。     

中草药添加剂对乌骨鸡免疫机能和物质代谢的影响

选取243只1日龄的乌骨鸡，随机分成3组（A，B，C），每组设3个重复，每个重复27只，A组为对照组，添加50mg/kg土霉素和90mg/kg阿散酸，B，C组为试验组，分别添加1％中草药添加剂Ⅰ，Ⅱ，以研究中草药添加剂对乌骨鸡免疫组和物质代谢的影响。结果表明：A，B，C3组免疫器官（法氏囊、脾脏、胸腺的）的相对重和新城疫血凝抑制试验抗体效价的差异不显著（P＞0．05），与A组相比，C组的表观氮存留率，干特质消化率和有机物消化率分别降低了8．81％（P＜0．01），2．51％（P＜0．01，1．77％（P＜0．05）；但A，B组间差异极显著（P＞0．05）。这说明，中草药添加剂Ⅰ优于中草药添加Ⅱ，可以替代抗生素饲喂乌骨鸡。     

反复冻融对缠丝兔加工过程中脂肪酸含量变化的影响

以反复冻融兔肉为原料,分析缠丝兔加工过程中的脂肪酸含量变化。结果表明：与新鲜原料兔肉对照,随着冻融次数增加,反复冻融原料兔肉及其腌制后和烘烤后的脂肪含量显著降低,硫代巴比妥酸值显著增加（P＜0.05）;原料兔肉检测出棕榈酸（C16∶0）、亚油酸（C18∶2）等脂肪酸,在缠丝兔加工过程中,脂肪降解产生了油酸（C18∶1）;反复冻融兔肉在腌制和烘烤后的脂肪酸也呈显著性变化（P＜0.05）;5 次冻融原料的缠丝兔脂肪含量最低（0.023 8%）、硫代巴比妥酸值最高（0.216 8 mg/kg）。表明兔肉反复冻融对缠丝兔的脂肪酸含量影响显著。     

支链、奇数链脂肪酸与肠道健康的关联性研究

为明确支链脂肪酸（BCFA）与奇数链脂肪酸（OCFA）对肠道健康的影响,利用气相色谱-质谱联用分析健康人群与肠道疾病患者血液中脂肪酸含量的差异,并应用正交偏最小二乘-判别分析（OPLS-DA）鉴定肠道健康人群的特征脂肪酸。结果表明：健康对照组、肠道息肉组、结直肠癌组3组人群中共检测出9种BCFA和4种OCFA;BCFA、OCFA含量在健康人群中显著偏高（p<005）,其中anteiso-C17∶ 0、C17∶ 0含量随肠道健康状态恶化呈梯度下降趋势（p<0.05）;OPLS-DA共鉴定出anteiso-C17∶ 0、iso-C17∶ 0、C18∶ 1、C18∶ 0、C16∶ 0、C14∶ 0 6种特征脂肪酸标志物。综上,BCFA和OCFA对肠道健康有潜在的保护作用。     

大足黑山羊不同部位肌肉脂肪酸比较研究

为研究大足黑山羊不同部位肌内脂肪、脂肪酸含量和组成方面的差异,以处于相同饲喂条件且体质量相近的6 只5 月龄大足黑山羊为研究对象,分别利用索式抽提法和气相色谱-质谱联用法测定背最长肌和臂三头肌肌内脂肪含量和脂肪酸组成。结果表明：大足黑山羊背最长肌中肌内脂肪含量为3.2%,臂三头肌为3.0%,背最长肌略高于臂三头肌;大足黑山羊背最长肌和臂三头肌各检测出33 种脂肪酸,2 个部位各脂肪酸含量基本一致,但与背最长肌相比,臂三头肌反油酸（C18:1 n-9t）含量较高,而介子酸（C22:1）含量较低;16 种饱和脂肪酸中,仅十七碳酸（C17:0）含量背最长肌极显著高于臂三头肌（P＜0.01）;17 种不饱和脂肪酸中,4 种脂肪酸在不同部位间存在显著差异,背最长肌二十碳烯酸（C20:1）含量极显著高于臂三头肌（P＜0.01）,油酸（C18:1 n-9c）含量显著高于臂三头肌（P＜0.05）,臂三头肌反油酸（C18:1 n-9t）含量极显著高于背最长肌（P＜0.01）;臂三头肌和背最长肌中不同种类脂肪酸相对含量：单不饱和脂肪酸＞饱和脂肪酸＞多不饱和脂肪酸＞中链脂肪酸,臂三头肌和背最长肌中饱和脂肪酸和单不饱和脂肪酸相对含量之和分别为88.4%和86.3%;臂三头肌和背最长肌中n-3/n-6值相近且均在3.0左右;背最长肌多不饱和脂肪酸与饱和脂肪酸含量比值（P/S）为0.45,臂三头肌P/S值为0.41,背最长肌高于臂三头肌。说明不同部位大足黑山羊肉脂肪酸含量及组成存在差异,并可能在一定程度上影响肉的风味及营养价值。     

籽粒苋延缓衰老作用的研究

本文以BALB／C小鼠为对象,研究籽粒苋对小鼠七项衰老指标的影响,结果表明籽粒苋可以使血清及肝脏中过氧化脂质（LPO）分别降低12．9％及12．1％（P＜0．01）;显著降低心肌脂褐素（LF）含量达25．4％（P＜0．01）;显著升高血红细胞及肝中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性分别为12．1％和14．5％（P＜0．05或P＜0．01）;还可以明显提高血中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH－Px)活性达39．4％（P＜0．01）;显著增加皮肤羟脯氨酸（HYP含量18．1％（P＜0．01）;对血中过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性可以提高11．8％,与老龄对照组比较,尚未有显著差异。籽粒苋还能显著抑制脑中B型单胺氧化酶（MAO－B）活性29．8％（P＜0．01）,同时对肝内MAO－B活性无影响。以上结果证明,籽粒苋能提高体内抗氧化酶活性,抑制脂质的过氧化反应,具有良好的抗衰老作用,是一种理想的功能性食品。     

澳洲美利奴羊肉脂肪酸组成

选择3 只澳洲美利奴羔羊的背最长肌、臀肌及臂三头肌,利用气相色谱-质谱联用技术对其脂肪酸含量进行测定及分类探讨。结果表明：澳洲美利奴羊肉中共含有脂肪酸35 种,其中C15:1、C16:0、C17:1、C18:0、C18:1 n-9c脂肪酸含量较高,3 个部位肌肉中：不饱和脂肪酸含量＞饱和脂肪酸含量＞单不饱和脂肪酸含量＞多不饱和脂肪酸含量,且每个部位肌肉中单不饱和脂肪酸含量比多不饱和脂肪酸含量均高出2～3 倍;n-3脂肪酸亚麻酸甲酯（C18:3 n-3）在臂三头肌中的含量显著高于背最长肌（P＜0.05）;与另外2 个部位相比,臂三头肌总脂肪酸、饱和脂肪酸、不饱和脂肪酸、中链脂肪酸及长链脂肪酸含量均最高;臂三头肌中多不饱和脂肪酸与饱和脂肪酸含量比值最高,背最长肌中最低。     

不同脂肪来源婴儿配方奶粉与母乳的甘油酯组成差异

对5 种脂质来源婴儿配方奶粉（infant formula powder,IFP）与母乳（human milk,HM）在甘油酯组成上进行比较研究。结果表明：不同脂肪来源的IFP与HM在脂肪组成、组分比例上有显著差异,HM中甘油二酯（diglyceride,DG）相对含量高达（7.84±0.57）%,显著高于IFP的最高对应值（1.26±0.22）%（P＜0.05）,其中DG(18∶2/18∶2)和DG(18∶1/18∶1)是HM中含量最高的DG种类,二者共占HM总DG的80%以上;在甘油三酯（triglyceride,TG）组成上,虽目前IFP已添加1,3-二油酸-2-棕榈酸甘油三酯成分,但TG(16∶0/18∶1/18∶1)相对含量（最高（6.70±0.19）%）仍显著低于HM对应值（（7.92±0.58）%）（P＜0.05）,同时,IFP中TG(16∶1/17∶2/22∶6)相对含量最低为（3.68±0.67）%,显著高于HM（0.02±0.01）%（P＜0.05）,这说明IFP中C22∶6的主要存在形式与HM不同。虽然目前IFP在主要脂肪酸组成上接近HM,但其在脂肪酸的存在形式上仍与HM存在明显不同。     

以可利用氨基酸配制肉鸡饲粮的试验研究

选择3周龄艾维因肉仔鸡84只，随机分成两组，每组3个重复，每个重复14只。进行饲养试验，试验期为21d。对照组饲喂以总氨基酸为基础的玉米－豆粕－鱼粉型日粮，含粗蛋白质20％；试验组饲喂以可利用氨基酸为基础的低蛋白（16％）日粮，不含鱼粉。试验结果表明：对照组全期增重与平均日增重均高于试验组，差异不显著（P＞0．05）；对照组平均料重比高于试验组，差异极显著（P＜0．01）；对照组全期耗料高于试验组，差异极显著（P＜0．01）；对照组每增重100g耗料，耗蛋白质，耗氨基酸均高于试验组，差异极显著（P＜0．01）。结果证明：采用可利用氨基酸配制肉鸡日粮可提高饲料利用率，节约蛋白质，减少粪便中氮对环境的污染，且在不影响肉鸡生产性能的情况下可提高肉鸡的经济效益。     

Single-step genome-wide association for selected milk fatty acids in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cows

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and identify genomic regions associated with selected individual and groups of milk fatty acids (FA) predicted by milk mid-infrared spectrometry in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cows. The used data were 69,349 test-day records of milk yield, fat percentage, and protein percentage along with selected individual and groups FA of milk (g/dL milk) collected from 2007 to 2020 on 7,392 first-parity (40,903 test-day records), and 5,185 second-parity (28,446 test-day records) cows distributed in 104 herds in the Walloon Region of Belgium. Data of 28,466 SNPs, located on 29 Bos taurus autosomes (BTA), of 1,699 animals (639 males and 1,060 females) were used. Random regression test-day models were used to estimate genetic parameters through the Bayesian Gibbs sampling method. The SNP solutions were estimated using a single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction approach. The proportion of genetic variance explained by each 25-SNP sliding window (with an average size of ~2 Mb) was calculated, and regions accounting for at least 1.0% of the total additive genetic variance were used to search for candidate genes. Average daily heritability estimated for the included milk FA traits ranged from 0.01 (C4:0) to 0.48 (C12:0) and 0.01 (C4:0) to 0.42 (C12:0) in the first and second parities, respectively. Genetic correlations found between milk yield and the studied individual milk FA, except for C18:0, C18:1 trans, C18:1 cis-9, were positive. The results showed that fat percentage and protein percentage were positively genetically correlated with all studied individual milk FA. Genome-wide association analyses identified 11 genomic regions distributed over 8 chromosomes [BTA1, BTA4, BTA10, BTA14 (4 regions), BTA19, BTA22, BTA24, and BTA26] associated with the studied FA traits, though those found on BTA14 partly overlapped. The genomic regions identified differed between parities and lactation stages. Although these differences in genomic regions detected may be due to the power of quantitative trait locus detection, it also suggests that candidate genes underlie the phenotypic expression of the studied traits may vary between parities and lactation stages. These findings increase our understanding about the genetic background of milk FA and can be used for the future implementation of genomic evaluation to improve milk FA profile in Dual-Purpose Belgian Blue cows.     

Composition of milk fat from cows selected for milk fat globule size and offered either fresh pasture or a corn silage-based diet

The objective of this study was to examine the synthesis and composition of milk produced by dairy cows that secrete either small milk fat globules (SMFG) or large milk fat globules (LMFG), and to study their response to diets known to alter milk composition. Four groups of 3 multiparous dairy cows were assigned to 2 isoenergetic feeding treatments: a corn silage treatment supplemented with soybean meal, and fresh pasture supplemented with cereal concentrate. The 4 groups comprised 2 groups of 3 dairy cows that produced SMFG (3.44 μm) and 2 groups of 3 dairy cows that produced LMFG (4.53 μm). The SMFG dairy cows produced higher yields of milk, protein, and calcium. Nevertheless, their milk had lower fat and protein contents. Both SMFG and LMFG cows secreted similar amounts of milk fat; therefore, higher globule membrane contents in milk fat were observed in SMFG cows. Higher calcium mineralization of the casein micelles in SMFG cows suggests that it may be possible to improve cheese-making properties even if the lower protein content may lead to lower cheese yields. The SMFG cows secrete milk fat with a higher concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids and a lower concentration of short-chain fatty acids. They also have a higher C18:1/C18:0 ratio than LMFG cows. This suggests that SMFG cows have more significant fatty acid elongation and desaturation. The pasture treatment led to an increase in milk and protein yields because of increased energy intake. It also resulted in lower milk fat yield and fat and protein contents. The pasture treatment led to a decrease in milk fat globule size and, as expected, an increase in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents. However, it induced a decrease in the protein content, and in calcium mineralization of casein micelles, which suggests that this type of milk would be less suitable for making cheese. This study also shows that there is no correlation between the cows, based on milk fat globule size and diet. These results open up possibilities for improving milk fat quality based on milk fat globule size, and composition. The mechanisms involved in milk fat globule secretion are still to be determined.     

Fatty acid composition of milk from multiparous Holstein cows treated with bovine somatotropin and fed n-3 fatty acids in early lactation

Multiparous cows (n = 59) were blocked by expected calving date and previous milk yield and assigned randomly to treatments to determine effects of bovine somatotropin (bST; Posilac, Monsanto Animal Agricultural Group, St. Louis, MO) and source of dietary fat on milk fatty acid composition during the first 140 d in milk. Diets were provided from calving and included whole, high-oil sunflower seeds (SS; 10% of dietary dry matter; n-6/n-3 ratio of 4.6) as a source of linoleic acid or a mixture of Alifet-High Energy and Alifet-Repro (AF; Alifet USA, Cincinnati, OH; 3.5 and 1.5% of dietary dry matter, respectively; n-6/n-3 ratio of 2.6) as a source of protected n-3 fatty acids (15.7% 18:3, 1.3% 20:5, and 1.3% 22:6). Treatments were derived from a 2 × 2 combination of supplemental fat source (SS, AF) and with 0 (SSN, AFN) or 500 (SSY, AFY) mg of bST administered every 10 d from 12 to 70 d in milk and at 14-d intervals thereafter. Milk fatty acid composition was determined in samples collected from 32 cows (8 complete blocks) during wk 2, 8, and 20 of lactation. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using mixed model procedures to determine the effects of diet, bST, week of lactation, and their interactions. Proportions of 18:3 (4.02 vs. 3.59 ± 0.16%), 20:5 (0.52 vs. 0.41 ± 0.02%), and 22:6 (0.11 vs. 0.02 ± 0.02%) were greater and the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio (7.40 vs. 8.80 ± 0.30) was reduced in milk from cows fed AF compared with SS. Proportions of de novo-synthesized fatty acids increased and preformed fatty acids decreased as lactation progressed, but bST administration delayed this shift in origin of milk fatty acids. Transfer efficiency of 18:3, 20:5, and 22:6 from AF to milk fat averaged 36.2, 4.9, and 5.2%, respectively. These efficiencies increased as lactation progressed, but were delayed by bST. Apparent mammary Δ⁹-desaturase activity and milk conjugated linoleic acid (cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid) content increased through the first 8 wk of lactation. Based on the product-to-substrate ratio of 14:1/14:0 fatty acids in milk, there was an interaction of diet and bST because bST decreased apparent Δ⁹-desaturase activity in SSY cows but increased it in AFY cows (0.10, 0.09, 0.08, and 0.09 ± 0.01 for SSN, SSY, AFN, and AFY, respectively). Feeding Alifet-Repro increased n-3 fatty acids in milk and bST prolonged the partitioning of dietary fatty acids into milk fat.     

Effect of feeding oilseed supplements to dairy cows on ruminal and milk fatty acid composition

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of oilseed‐based supplements, rapeseed and linseed, against a barley‐based control, on the fatty acid composition, and subsequent solid fat ratio, of the milk fat from dairy cows. In addition, as a means of understanding the digestive processes which influence the milk fat composition, ruminal extracts were collected from the cows and analysed for fatty acid composition. Four lactating dairy cows each fitted with a rumen fistula were provided with silage and one of four concentrate diets. The main constituent of the concentrate supplements was either rapeseed (ground or unground), linseed (unground) or a barley control. The diets were offered in accordance with a 4 × 4 Latin square arrangement. The oilseed‐supplemented concentrates provided the cows with 620–640 g fatty acids day^?1. Experimental treatments were provided to the cows for 2 weeks, after which ruminal extracts were collected over a 24 h period and a milk sample was taken. All extracts were analysed for fatty acid composition. The diets fed influenced the long‐chain fatty acid composition of the ruminal extracts and milk fat. The proportion of C18:1n‐9 in the ruminal extracts increased from 202–224 to 282–321 g kg^?1 of the total fatty acids when the cows were provided with the rapeseed‐based diets. The linseed‐based diet increased the C18:1n‐9 proportion of the ruminal extracts from 164 to 218 g kg^?1 of the total fatty acids. Both rapeseed‐based diets also resulted in a higher proportion of C18:0 in the ruminal extract, possibly owing to biohydrogenation of the dietary fatty acids. This proportion of C18:0 in the ruminal extract was lowest immediately after feeding, increasing to a maximum 4–6 h later. Both rapeseed‐based concentrates increased the proportion of C18:1n‐9 in the milk fat to approximately 300 g kg^?1 of the total fatty acids as compared with 214 g kg^?1 for the control. The proportion of C18:1n‐9 in the milk fat from the cows offered the linseed‐based concentrate was 246 g kg^?1 of the total fatty acids. There were also significant decreases in the proportions of C16:0 in the milk fat from the cows offered all oilseed‐based concentrates. There was no difference between the fatty acid compositions of the milk fats from the cows fed the ground or unground rapeseed‐based supplements. The oilseed‐based supplements also resulted in significant decreases in the solid fat content of the milk fat at temperatures ranging from 0 to 35 °C, which would be indicative of a softer, more spreadable butter. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Dietary manipulation of the yield and composition of milk: Effects of dietary inclusions of barley and oats in untreated or formaldehyde-treated forms on milk fatty acid composition

Eight 1st-lactation cows were given four dietary treatments in a duplicated 4×4 Latin square experiment. Diets consisted of hay and soya bean meal together with barley, formaldehyde-treated barley, oats or formaldehydetreated oats (approximately 34:12:54 on a dry matter basis). Barley diets supplied 211 g fatty acids d^?1, oats diets supplied 537 g d^?1. The fatty acid composition (g kg^?1 total fatty acids) for barley diets was: 300 (16:0); 20 (18:0); 150 (18:1); 470 (18:2); 60 (18:3). Corresponding values for oats diets were 180, 20, 390, 380 and 30 g kg^?1. Formaldehyde treatment of the cereals tended to increase milk yield and reduce milk fat content (P<0·01 for barley) but did not affect milk fatty acid composition. Feeding oats in replacement for barley significantly (P<0·05) increased milk yield and lactose yield and reduced milk fat content (P<0·05 for the untreated cereals) and protein contents (P<0·01) without significant effects on milk fat or protein yields. Oats diets led to significant (P<0·001) reductions in the content of 8:0–16:0 fatty acids in milk fat with associated increases (P<0·001) in the content of 18:0 and 18:1. Changes in milk fat content of 18:2 and 18:3 acids were small. The results show the inclusion of oats in the cow's diet to be a means of reducing the saturated fatty acid content of milk fat thereby improving the nutritional value of milk and milk products and their appeal to the health-conscious consumer.     

Effects of feeding micronised flaxseed on yield and composition of milk from Holstein cows

Nine multiparous Holstein cows were used in three 3 × 3 Latin squares to investigate the effects of feeding unheated and micronised flaxseed on milk yield and milk fatty acid composition. Three diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of dairy cows in early lactation: a control diet with no added flaxseed (NFS), an unheated flaxseed diet (UFS) and a micronised flaxseed diet (MFS). The level of flaxseed in UFS and MFS was 70 g kg^?1 of the diet dry matter (DM). Feeding flaxseed to dairy cows had no effect on DM intake or milk yield. However, energy‐corrected milk was higher (P < 0.05) for cows fed MFS than for those fed UFS or NFS. Supplemental flaxseed reduced (P < 0.05) the milk fat percentage without affecting the concentration of milk protein or milk lactose. However, the yield of milk components was not affected by feeding flaxseed. The concentrations of short‐chain (C_4:0 to C_12:0) and medium‐chain (C_14:0 to C_17:0) fatty acids were decreased (P < 0.05) while those of long‐chain fatty acids (C_18:0 to C_18:3) were increased (P < 0.05) in the milk of cows fed UFS and MFS compared with cows fed NSF. Feeding flaxseed to dairy cows can alter the milk fatty acid composition, but only minor effects on milk fatty acid composition can be expected by feeding micronised versus unheated flaxseed. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Performance of dairy cows fed roasted sunflower seed

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects on milk yield, milk composition, ruminal fermentation and total tract nutrient utilization of feeding roasted whole sunflower seed to dairy cows. Three diets were formulated: a control diet with no sunflower seed (NSF), a raw sunflower seed diet (USF) and a roasted sunflower seed diet (RSF). The level of sunflower seed in USF and RSF was 78 g kg^?1 of dry matter (DM). The effects of dietary treatments on yield and composition of milk were determined using nine Holstein cows in three 3 × 3 Latin squares. Three ruminally fistulated cows were used to determine the effects of dietary treatments on ruminal fermentation and total tract nutrient digestibilities. Cows fed sunflower seed diets consumed 8% less (P < 0.05) DM but produced similar amounts of milk as cows fed NSF. However, milk fat content (30.7 vs 33.5 g kg^?1) and yield (1.33 vs 1.47 kg day^?1) were lower (P < 0.05) for cows fed USF and RSF than for those fed NSF. Supplemental sunflower seed had no effect on concentrations and yields of other milk components. The concentrations of short‐chain (C_4:0 to C_12:0) and medium‐chain (C_14:0 to C_16:0) fatty acids were, respectively, 27% and 29% lower (P < 0.05) while those of long‐chain fatty acids (C_18:0 to C_18:3) were 51% higher (P < 0.05) in the milk of cows fed USF and RSF than for cows fed NSF. Ruminal pH, ammonia N and total volatile fatty acids were not affected by dietary treatments. Feeding sunflower seed (USF or RSF) reduced (P < 0.05) the concentration of acetate and increased (P < 0.05) the concentration of propionate. Total tract nutrient digestibilities were not affected by sunflower seed supplementation or by heat treatment. Supplementing dairy cow diets with unheated or roasted sunflower seed improved the efficiency of milk production and increased concentrations of long‐chain and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Feeding sunflower seed at up to 78 g kg^?1 of diet DM had no adverse effects on nutrient utilization. Roasting had no additional benefits on milk yield or milk fatty acid composition. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of level of oil inclusion in the diet of dairy cows at pasture on animal performance and milk composition and properties

The effect of including additional oil, incorporated as whole rapeseeds, in the diet of 64 Holstein–Friesian dairy cows (32 mid‐ and 32 late‐lactation) at pasture on animal performance and milk fat composition and properties was followed over a continuous trial of 20 weeks duration. Within two stages of lactation (mid, 130 ± 16.2 days, or late, 231 ± 58.9 days), cows were allocated to concentrate treatments representing four levels of rapeseed oil inclusion, 0 (control), 200, 400 and 600 g oil day^?1. Oil inclusion had little effect on milk yield but decreased milk fat content significantly (P < 0.01), with a mean depression of 0.40% at the highest level of oil inclusion. The content of milk protein also decreased with increasing addition of oil, but the decrease was smaller than the milk fat depression and was not statistically significant. Increasing the level of rapeseed oil in the diet to 600 g oil day^?1 resulted in linear changes in milk fat and protein concentrations which were described by regression equations. For each 100 g of rapeseed oil added to the diet, milk fat content decreased by 0.068% in mid‐lactation cows and 0.061% in late‐lactation cows, while protein content decreased by 0.026% in mid‐lactation cows and 0.028% in late‐lactation cows. Total unsaturated fatty acid content of milk fat also increased in a linear fashion with increased level of oil addition, from 345.7 g kg^?1 total fatty acids in control milk fat to 459.3 g kg^?1 total fatty acids at 600 g oil day^?1, while total saturated fatty acids decreased in the same milk fats from 640.7 to 522.2 g kg^?1 total fatty acids. These changes were reflected in lower solid fat contents (SFC) in the milk fat at the lower temperatures of measurement, eg 41% SFC at 5 °C at the highest level of oil inclusion compared with 52% in the control milk fat. However, SFC at 20 °C showed little difference with increasing level of dietary oil addition, an important factor in maintaining product integrity at room temperatures. The relatively high content of the monounsaturated fatty acid C18:1 (345.5 g kg^?1 total fatty acids at 600 g oil day^?1) and low content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (total C18:2 and C18:3 <40 g kg^?1 total fatty acids at 600 g oil day^?1) ensured that the oxidative stability of the treatment and control milk fats did not differ significantly. Stage of lactation had an unexplained effect of consistent magnitude on milk fat composition throughout the trial period, with late‐lactation animals producing milk fats containing a significantly (P < 0.001) higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids than the mid‐lactation animals. Changes in the proportions of unsaturated fatty acids in milk fat, as reflected by changes in iodine value, were established within 2 weeks of the trial commencing and persisted over the 20 weeks of the trial duration. No adverse effect on animal health from this type of dietary manipulation was identified. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry