Effect of a supplement rich in linolenic acid added to the diet of post partum dairy cows on ovarian follicle growth, and milk and plasma fatty acid compositions

Abstract

-The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a linseed supplement on follicle growth, progesterone concentrations and milk and plasma fatty acids in dairy cows post partum. Sixteen Holstein cows were given a basal total mixed diet plus one of two supplements: control (C; extruded soybeans; n = 8) or linseed (L; extruded linseeds; n = 8). One month after calving oestrous cycles were synchronised (PRID ® ). Follicle growth and milk progesterone concentrations were measured every 2 d over the induced oestrous cycle. Milk production characteristics were unaffected by treatment. The L cows lost significantly more BCS than the C cows (P < 0.01). Plasma insulin, glucose and urea were unaffected by the treatment. Plasma NEFA tended to be affected by the treatment (L > C, P = 0.08). The proportions of 18:3n-3 in milk and plasma were increased by L compared to C (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively). There was an effect of dietary supplement on the numbers of small follicles (L < C, P < 0.05). Milk progesterone was unaffected by treatment. In conclusion, the increased supply of 18:3n-3 to the cows had only a modest effect on follicle populations and corpus luteum activity was unchanged.linolenic acid / milk and plasma fatty acids / follicle growth / dairy cows

Invited review: Roles of dietary n-3 fatty acids in performance, milk fat composition, and reproductive and immune systems in dairy cattle

“…Ovaries were monitored by ultrasonography for follicular status, and the average numbers of 2-to 5-mm follicles on d 5 and 9 of the cycle were higher in the cows fed encapsulated flaxseed oil than in those fed sunflower oil, whereas the average numbers of follicles ≥10 mm on d 5, 9, and 13 were higher in those fed sunflower oil than in those fed encapsulated flaxseed oil and controls. In contrast, Ponter et al (2006) reported an increased number of small follicles in cows fed EF compared with those fed extruded soybeans (rich in C18: 2n -6), with no difference in the number of medium-sized or large follicles. Similarly, the number of 3-to 7-mm-diameter follicles collected from cows supplemented with encapsulated flaxseed oil or fish oil during ovum pick-up procedures was higher than that from SFA-fed cows (Moallem et al, 2013).…”

Diet, rumen biohydrogenation and nutritional quality of cow and goat milk fat

“…Formaldehyde treatment of linseeds did not increase milk 18:3n-3 more than raw seeds did [145,146]. Furthermore, the intake of 200-460 g/day of 18:3n-3 from extruded linseeds [128,144,147,148] or extruded rapeseeds 1 linseeds [149] increased the cow milk fat 18:3n-3 percentage by 0.3-0.9 g/100 g FA, i.e. in the range observed above with unprocessed linseeds or oil and lower than what could be obtained with grazing high-quality pastures (see Section 3.1.1.…”

Linseed: a valuable feedstuff for ruminants

“…Some authors reported an improved increased follicular and corpus luteum growth , oocyte (Moallem et al, 2013;Zachut et al, 2010) and embryo quality (Thangavelu et al, 2007), decreased pregnancy loss (Ambrose et al, 2006), reduced plasma prostaglandin (Petit et al, 2002), and increased serum progesterone concentration (Jahani-Moghadam et al, 2015), reduced interval from calving to ovulation (Colazo et al, 2009). In contrast, others noted no changes in milk progesterone concentration or corpus luteum activity (Ponter et al, 2006), or oocyte quality (Bilby et al, 2006, Fouladi-Nashta et al, 2009. The inconsistencies among these studies could be due to differences in the amounts of lipid supplements, duration of supplementation, and season.…”