The Effect of Inclusion of Naked Oats in the Concentrate Offered to Dairy Cows on Milk Production, Milk Fat Composition and Properties

Abstract

Dairy cows in early or mid‐lactation were offered naked oats‐ or barley‐based concentrates in addition to ad libitumaccess to grass silage in a continuous design experiment of 10 weeks duration. Concentrates were formulated on an isonitrogenous basis and contained either 500 g barley or 565 g naked oats kg−1 concentrates as the principal energy source in the concentrate. Concentrate type had no effect on silage intake, milk yield or milk protein concentration. However, nitrogen and modified acid detergent fibre digestibility were significantly reduced by inclusion of naked oats and this was reflected in a significant reduction in milk fat concentration. Milk fat from early lactation cows on the naked oats diet contained the highest proportion of unsaturated and the lowest proportion of saturated fatty acids. Sensory and instrumental analyses determined that this milk fat produced the softest, most spreadable butter. This was supported by solid fat content results. The degree of change in milk fat composition due to diet was similar irrespective of stage of lactation but milk fat compositions with the control treatment differed with stage of lactation. Dietary effects were established by the end of the first week of the trial and persisted for the 10‐week trial period.

Finishing strategies for steers based on pasture or silage plus grain and time on feed and their effects on beef quality

“…In the present study, the ether extract was twofold greater in oats than that in wheat (Table 1). Previous studies investigated the effect of naked oats in feed on the fatty acid composition of milk (Woods and Fearon, 2009), and the milk fat from early and midlactation cows fed a naked oat diet (plus ad libitum grass silage) had higher levels of unsaturated fats (primarily C18:1) and lower levels of saturated fatty acids (C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0) than milk fat from animals fed a barley diet (Fearon et al, 1996). However, diets with oats favor the primary rumen PUFA-biohydrogenation pathway (associated with modification of ruminal bacterial populations), which induces more complete hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids in the diet (Gómez-Cortés et al, 2009).…”

Dietary sources of unsaturated fatty acids for animals and their transfer into meat, milk and eggs: A review

“…The use of oats as an animal feed declined in the UK over the past 30 years but slight increases have occurred in recent years (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), 2008). Fearon et al (1996) reported that milk fat from cows offered 6 kg/day of a naked oats-based concentrate (providing 3.4 kg/day naked oats) plus ad libitum grass silage had a higher proportion of MUFA, C18:1 c-9, (27.3 g/100 g compared to 22.5 g/100 g total FA in the control), and a lower proportion of SFA (63 g/100 g compared to 68 g/100 g total FA in the control) than cows offered 6 kg/day of a barley-based control concentrate (providing 3 kg barley/day) plus ad libitum grass silage. The milk from dairy cows offered the naked oats diet produced a butter that was softer and more spreadable.…”

Investigations on the Iron‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Sulfide Oxidation

“…It was further hoped that an increased understanding of the effect of the digestive processes of the ruminant on unprocessed oilseed supplements could be achieved through an analysis of the contents from the rumen, collected over a 24 h period after the cows consumed the diets. The use of a 14 day feeding period was deemed sufficient time to monitor experimental effects in the cows, as Banks et al 9 reported dietary effects on milk fat within 48 h of offering free fatty acids and Fearon et al 10 reported that the dietary effects of offering naked oats observed after 1 week remain unchanged for up to 10 weeks.…”