Effects of commercially available palmitic and stearic acid supplements on nutrient digestibility and production responses of lactating dairy cows

Abstract

We evaluated the effects of commercially available fatty acid (FA) supplements containing palmitic (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) on nutrient digestibility and production responses of dairy cows. Thirty-six midlactation (146 ± 55 d in milk) multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to twelve 3 × 3 balanced truncated Latin squares, with 3 treatments and 2 consecutive 35-d periods, with the final 5 d used for sample and data collection. Treatments were (1) a control diet containing no supplemental FA (CON), (2) a control diet supplemented with a commercially available C16:0 supplement (PA), and (3) a control diet supplemented with a commercially available C16:0 and C18:0 supplement (MIX). Supplements were fed at 1.5% dry matter and replaced soyhulls in CON. The statistical model included the random effect of cow nested within square and the fixed effects of treatment, period, square, and their interactions. Preplanned contrasts were (1) overall effect of FA treatments [CON vs. the average of the FA treatments (FAT); 1/2 (PA + MIX)], and (2) effect of FA supplement (PA vs. MIX). Treatment had no effects on dry matter intake, body weight, or body weight change. Compared with CON, FAT decreased digestibilities of total FA and 18-carbon FA but did not affect dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibility. Compared with MIX, PA increased dry matter and neutral detergent fiber digestibilities by 3.6 and 4.8 percentage units, respectively. The PA also increased total FA and 18-carbon FA digestibilities but did not alter 16-carbon FA digestibility compared with MIX. Using a Lucas test, we estimated apparent digestibility coefficients of 0.768 and 0.553 for the PA and MIX supplements, respectively. Compared with CON, FAT increased milk yield and tended to increase energy-corrected milk, but did not affect yield of milk fat or milk protein. The PA increased energy-corrected milk and milk fat yield but had no effect on milk protein yield compared with MIX. Our results indicate that dairy cows producing around 45 kg of milk respond better to a FA supplement enriched in C16:0 compared with a supplement containing both C16:0 and C18:0, which is likely due in part to PA increasing FA and neutral detergent fiber digestibility compared with MIX.

Effect of palmitic acid-enriched supplements containing stearic or oleic acid on nutrient digestibility and milk production of low- and high-producing dairy cows

“…For cows averaging 46.5 kg/d of milk yield, a FA blend of 80% C16:0 + 10% cis-9 C18:1 tended to increase 3.5% FCM and ECM compared with treatments containing 40% C16:0 + 40% C18:0 and a blend of 45% C16:0 + 35% cis-9 C18:1 (de Souza et al, 2018). Similarly, Western et al (2020a) observed a FA treatment consisting of 80% C16:0 + 10% cis-9 C18:1 to increase yields of 3.5% FCM and ECM compared 2 Treatments were CON = no fatty acid (FA) supplementation, PA+SA = 1.5% of a FA supplement blend providing ~60% C16:0 and 30% C18:0, and PA+OA = 1.5% of a FA supplement blend providing ~60% C16:0 and 30% cis-9 C18:1.…”

Dynamics of Bacterial and Fungal Communities and Metabolites During Aerobic Exposure in Whole-Plant Corn Silages With Two Different Moisture Levels

“…It is necessary to improve the aerobic stability of whole-plant corn silage during feed-out for preserving those metabolites mentioned above. Palmitic and stearic acids as saturated fatty acids are commonly used for fatty acid supplementation to increase milk yield and milk components ( Souza et al, 2018 ; Shepardson et al, 2020 ; Western et al, 2020 ). These fatty acids are mainly distributed in the kernels and leaves of corn plants ( Baldin et al, 2018 ).…”

Milk production responses to altering the dietary ratio of palmitic and oleic acids varies with production level in dairy cows

“…C16:0 and cis-9 C18:1 are 2 FA that are commonly found in commercially available products (de Souza et al, 2018) and are also the main FA found in milk fat and adipose tissue (Jensen, 2002). C16:0 supplementation has been shown to increase milk yield and milk components (de Souza et al, 2018;Western et al, 2020), whereas cis-9 C18:1 has been shown to increase energy partitioning to body reserves (de Souza et al, 2018). We recently observed an interaction between production level and performance of cows when the ratio of C16:0 and cis-9 C18:1 changed in FA supplement blends (de Souza et al, 2019).…”

“…Understanding the differences between individual FA is crucial to determining optimal dietary FA profiles for cows. Recent research indicates that C16:0 supplementation increases milk fat concentration and yield and NDF digestibility compared with non-FA-supplemented control diets and other FA supplements (de Souza and Lock, 2018b;Western et al, 2020). Boerman et al (2017) fed increasing levels of a C18: 0 -enriched supplement (~93% C18:0) to dairy cows and observed no positive effect on production responses, which was likely associated with the pronounced decrease in total FA digestibility as FA intake increased.…”

“…Supplemental fat is often added to dairy cow rations to increase energy density and improve milk production and milk fat yield (Palmquist and Jenkins, 2017). Recent research has focused on the effects of supplemental fat on milk production, nutrient digestibility, and metabolism (Rico et al, 2014a;de Souza et al, 2018;Western et al, 2020). Although, in general, fat supplementation has been shown to increase milk yield, the efficiency of milk production, and reproductive performance, great variation has been reported for different fat types and, indeed, the same supplement across different diets and studies (Rabiee et al, 2012;Rodney et al, 2015).…”