Effect of extruded linseed on productive and reproductive performance of lactating dairy cows

Milk yield and reproductive performance of dairy heifers and cows supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids

“…Other researchers, however, did not find beneficial effects of linseed supplementation on fertility (Petit & Twagiramungu, 2006;Fuentes et al, 2008). Differential responses to fatty acid feeding suggest that PUFAs of the n-6 and n-3 families are more beneficial than saturated fat acids (Santos et al, 2008).…”

“…Juchem (2007) pointed out that between 70 and 85% of the PUFAs are biohydrogenated when cows are fed with unprotected oils. Furthermore, PUFAs from extruded linseed are biohydrogenated in an even greater proportion, and the intermediates of this biohydrogenation process, such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), have been related to decreasing milk fat contents (Fuentes et al, 2008). Bauman & Griinari (2003) reported that trans-10, cis-12-CLA is responsible for causing milk fat reduction in dairy cows.…”

“…However, the source of these acids certainly has effect on the different milk yield responses and also on milk fat and protein production. For example, palm oil enables higher increases in milk yield than linseed oil (Fuentes et al, 2008).…”

“…PUFAs from the n-6 and n-3 families seem to have their most remarkable effects on cattle reproductive performance (Mattos et al, 2000). However, it is not completely clear whether those effects are mediated by the PUFAs themselves or by intermediate metabolites produced during biohydrogenation in the rumen (Santos et al, 2008).…”

“…Finally, the intake of n-6 fatty acids during late gestation and early lactation contributes to improve embryo quality and development (Fouladi-Nashta et al, 2007). However, the effects of PUFAs on the reproductive performance of cows are still controversial: some authors claim that it has no effect on this trait (Scott et al, 1995;Petit & Twagiramungu, 2006;Juchem, 2007;Fuentes et al, 2008), while others maintain that it can improve fertility (McNamara et al, 2003;Ambrose et al, 2006).…”