Fatty acid profile and health lipid indices in the milk of ewes feeding with soybean oil

Abstract

The aim of this study is to increase conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and the unsaturated fatty acid content in the total fatty acids in the milk obtained from Akkaraman sheep by adding soybean oil to the ration and to produce a more functional food. In the study, 75 Akkaraman (live weight=63.5±1.02 kg) were used in the early stage of lactation (41±0.5 days at the beginning of the experiment) in a private sheep farm. In this study, three groups were formed balanced and equal according to lactation day, live weight and lactation number. The first group consisted of the control group (C) and the other groups were given 34g/day (SO1) and 63g/day (SO2) soybean oil respectively addition to ration. The study lasted four weeks, two weeks adaptation time and two weeks study time. The CLA ratio was 146% higher in SO1 group than in the control group and 108% higher in the SO2 group than in the control group (p<0.001). PUFA ratio had the highest value in SO2 group (p <0.001). As the amount of SO in the ration increased, n-6 ratio increased and n-3 ratio decreased. The contribution of SO and time had no significant effect on atherogenic index (AI), thrombogenic index (TI) and h/H. As a result, it was concluded that adding soybean oil to the ration (34g of soybean oil/per ewe a day) increased the CLA ratio in total milk fatty acids. Also adding 34g of soybean oil to the ration was sufficient to increase the CLA rate and decrease the SFA: UFA ratio.