Impact of feeding n-3 fatty acids ( FA ) to ISA brown and Shaver white breeders and their progeny on bone development in pullets was investigated. Breeders were fed Control ( CON ); CON + 1% microalgae ( DMA : Aurantiochytrium limacinum ) as the source of docosahexaenoic acid; and CON + 2.6% of a co-extruded mixture of full-fat flaxseed ( FFF ) and pulses mixture as source of α-linolenic acid. Test diets (DMA and FFF) were balanced for total n-3 FA and n-6: n-3 FA ratio. Samples of day-old progeny were euthanized for bone mineral content ( BMC ) and tibia collagen type II. The remaining pullets were fed posthatch treatments as follows: from breeder CON: CON ( CON-CON ), DMA ( CON-DMA ), and FFF ( CON-FFF ), from breeder DMA: CON ( DMA-CON ) and DMA ( DMA-DMA ) and from breeder FFF: CON ( FFF-CON ) and FFF ( FFF-FFF ). A total of 60 pullets per posthatch diets were reared in cages (12 pullets/cage, n = 5) with free access to feed and water, bled at 6, 12, and 18 wk of age ( WOA ) for bone turnover markers and necropsied at 18 WOA for tibia and femur samples. Day-old pullets from breeder fed CON had greater BMC ( P < 0.001) relative to those from breeders fed other diets. There was strain and diet interaction ( P ≤ 0.024) on tibia breaking strength ( TBS ) and tibia cortical ash concentration at 18 WOA such that diet responses were only observed in Shaver white pullets. In this context, TBS of DMA-DMA and FFF-FFF was greater than for pullets originating from CON breeder, and the cortical ash weight of DMA-DMA and FFF-FFF pullets was 23.8 and 20.2%, respectively, higher than for CON-CON pullets. In conclusions, the strain effects were strong on tibia attributes on 18-week-old pullets. Breeder feeding of n-3 FA was more effective when concomitant with posthatch feeding of n-3 FA in supporting the skeletal strength and cortical bone development in Shaver white pullets. Further investigations are warranted to establish the impact these strategies on skeletal health during laying cycle.

There is limited information on feeding egg-type chick breeders n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ) and its impact on hatching egg quality and embryonic fatty acid ( FA ) utilization. We investigated the effects of feeding brown and white egg-type chick breeders diets containing sources of n−3 PUFA on egg composition, apparent embryonic FA utilization, and intestinal FA transporter in hatchlings. Twenty-six-week-old ISA brown and Shaver white breeders were fed either 1) control ( CON ); 2) CON + 1% of microalgae (DMA, Aurantiochytrium limacinum ) fermentation product, as a source of docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA ); or 3) CON + 2.60% of coextruded full-fat flaxseed and pulse mixture (FFF, 1:1 wt/wt) as a source of α-linolenic acid ( ALA ). Test diets had similar total n−3 and n−6:n−3 ratio. Eggs were hatched, and residual yolk ( RY ) samples taken for FA analyses. Apparent embryonic FA utilization was calculated by subtracting concentration of FA in RY from concentration of FA in yolk before incubation. There was an interaction between strains and diets ( P < 0.05) on DHA in phospholipid and triglyceride fractions of yolk. Both n−3 PUFA sources increased DHA to a greater extent in Shaver white than in ISA brown. The interactive effect of strains and diets ( P = 0.019) on embryonic utilization of ALA was such that DMA and FFF reduced ALA utilization, and this pattern was more prevalent in Shaver white birds than in ISA brown birds. There was no interaction between strains and diets on DHA utilization ( P > 0.05). Embryos from hens fed n−3 PUFA sources used less total FA in phospholipid fraction ( P < 0.001), and they preferentially used more DHA than CON embryos. Shaver white embryos used more ( P < 0.05) ALA and DHA than ISA brown embryos. Although data suggested Shaver white had higher propensity of depositing DHA than ISA brown, irrespective of strain, feeding n−3 PUFA modified embryonic pattern of FA utilization toward utilization of DHA.

The impact of feeding sources of n-3 fatty acids ( FA ) to ISA brown and Shaver white breeders and their female offspring during rearing on egg production, eggshell, tibia, and keel bone attributes was examined. Breeders were fed Control ( CON ) or CON + 1% dried microalgae ( DMA : Aurantiochytrium limacinum ) as the source of docosahexaenoic acid or CON + 2.6% of a coextruded mixture of full-fat flaxseed ( FFF ) and pulses as a source of α-linolenic acid. Day-old offspring were fed 1) breeder CON-pullet CON ( CON-CON ), 2) breeder CON-pullet DMA ( CON-DMA ), 3) breeder CON-pullet FFF ( CON-FFF ), 4) breeder DMA-pullet CON ( DMA-CON ), 5) breeder DMA-pullet DMA ( DMA-DMA ), 6) breeder FFF-pullet CON ( FFF-CON ), and 7) breeder FFF-pullet FFF ( FFF-FFF ). At 18 wk of age ( WOA ), pullets were fed a common layer diet to 42 WOA for egg production and bone quality assessments. There was no ( P > 0.05) interaction between strains and diets and the main effect of diets on egg production, egg mass, and eggshell quality. There was an interaction ( P = 0.008) between strain and diet on egg weight ( EW ); however, the strain effect on EW ( P < 0.001) was such that ISA brown had heavier eggs than Shaver white. Shaver white had higher ( P < 0.001) eggshell %, eggshell, and tibia breaking strength ( BS ), as well as tibia ash concentration compared with ISA brown hens. In contrast, ISA brown hens exhibited heavier ( P < 0.05) tibia and keel bones. Feeding breeders DMA and pullets both sources of n-3 FA increased tibia medullary ash concentration compared with other diets ( P < 0.001). Shaver white hens showed greater decline in tibia BS (83.7 vs. 96.3%) and ash content (84.1 vs. 94.3%) than ISA brown hens from 18 to 42 WOA ( P < 0.05). Strain and diets exhibited independent effects on eggshell, tibia, and keel attributes. Provision of α-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid to breeders and offspring improved tibia medullary ash concentration at 42 WOA.

Aims: The effects of partial replacement of a barley-based concentrate with flaxseed-based products on the rumen bacterial population of lactating Holstein dairy cows were evaluated. Methods and Results: Treatments fed were CONT, a normal diet that included barley silage, alfalfa hay and a barley-based concentrate that contained no flaxseed or faba beans; FLAX, inclusion of a nonextruded flaxseed-based product containing 55Á0% flaxseed, 37Á8% field peas and 6Á9% alfalfa; EXT, similar to FLAX, but the product was extruded and EXTT, similar to FLAX, but product was extruded and field peas were replaced by high-tannin faba beans. The rumen bacterial population was evaluated by utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Most abundant phyla, families and genera were unaffected. However, some taxa were affected; for example, unsaturated fatty acid content was negatively correlated with Clostridiaceae, and tannin content was negatively correlated with BS11 and Paraprevotellaceae. Conclusions: Predominant rumen bacterial taxa were not affected, but the abundance of some taxa found in lower proportions shifted, possibly due to sensitivity to unsaturated fatty acids or tannins. Significance and Impact of the Study: Flaxseed-based products were effective for partially replacing barley-based concentrate in rations of lactating dairy cows. No negative effects of these products were observed on the abundance of predominant rumen bacterial taxa, with only minor shifts in less abundant bacteria.

The effects of coextruded full-fat flaxseed and pulses ( FFF ; 1:1 wt/wt) mixture on n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFA ) enrichment in egg yolk, hepatic attributes, apparent retention ( AR ) of components, and ceca metabolites were evaluated in broiler breeder hens. The diets were as follows: 1) corn–soybean control, 2) control diet plus 18% FFF ( FFF− ), and 3) FFF plus enzyme supplement ( FFF+ ) containing galactanase, protease, mannanase, glucanase, xylanase, amylase, and cellulase activities. Twenty-six-week-old Cobb 500 broiler breeder hens were allocated to 30 identical cages (2 hens/cage) and given 1-week adaptation period. The 3 diets were assigned to 10 replicate cages based on postadaptation BW and fed based on breeder curve for 30 D. Excreta samples were collected from day 24 to 27 for determination of AR of components, and eggs were collected from day 28 to 30 for yolk polyunsaturated fatty acids analyses. On day 30, birds were weighed, killed via cervical dislocation, liver weighed, and stored for fat analyses. Ceca digesta samples were taken for concentration of short-chain fatty acids. Liver and yolk weights as well as total yolk FA were not influenced by diets ( P > 0.05). Control birds had lower yolk concentration of α-linolenic acid than birds fed either FFF− or FFF+ ( P < 0.01) corresponding to 7.5, 36.8, and 37.3 mg/g for the control, FFF−, and FFF+, respectively. Control birds also exhibited lower yolk concentration of docosahexaenoic acid ( P < 0.01). Control birds had higher hepatic concentration of crude fat and apparent retention of dry matter and crude protein compared with either the FFF− or FFF+ birds ( P < 0.05). Birds fed FFF- diet had lower ceca digesta concentration of lactic acid than control and FFF+ ( P < 0.05) birds. Results showed broiler breeder hens enriched egg yolk with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids without effects on the liver while the supplemental enzyme did not improve the utilization of FFF.