The interaction of monensin and flaxseed hulls on ruminal and milk concentration of the mammalian lignan enterolactone in late-lactating dairy cows

Abstract

Four ruminally fistulated multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to a 4x4 Latin square design with a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments to study the effects of dietary supplementation of monensin and flaxseed hulls on ruminal and milk concentration of the mammalian lignan enterolactone (EL) and ruminal and faecal activity of beta-glucuronidase. The hypothesis was that monensin supplementation has no effect on the incorporation of EL into milk when cows are fed flaxseed hulls. Treatments were: 1) control, neither flaxseed hulls nor monensin (CO); 2) diet containing (dry matter basis) 20% flaxseed hulls (FH); 3) diet with monensin (16 mg/kg of dry matter; MO); 4) diet containing 20% (dry matter basis) flaxseed hulls and 16 mg/kg monensin (HM). Intake of dry matter was higher for CO and MO than for FH and HM and monensin had no effect. Milk production decreased in cows fed flaxseed hulls while monensin had no effect. Production of 4% fat-corrected milk and concentrations of milk fat, lactose, urea N, and total solids were similar among treatments. Although there was a decrease in ruminal activity of beta-glucuronidase when feeding flaxseed hulls, the metabolism of plant into mammalian lignans may be increased as shown by enhanced concentration of EL in the rumen and milk. Supplementation with flaxseed hulls then may contribute to favourably change milk composition for better human health by enhancing mammalian lignan EL concentration.

Effects of replacing extracted soybean meal with rapeseed cake in corn grass silage-based diet for dairy cows

“…That view is supported by other reports, e.g. Petit et al (2009). Similar observations were reported by Altenhofer et al 2014 (reduction in milk fat percentage, no effect on milk protein yield).…”

Phenolic content and ferric reducing–antioxidant power of cow's milk produced in different pasture‐based production systems in southern Brazil

“…Some studies have shown that the phenolic compounds found in milk may originate from dietary plant material . When cattle are fed high levels of particular crops, some specific phenolics may be detected in the milk, e.g.…”

“…genistein, equol and daidzein, all derived from clover . Similarly, flaxseed meal is a feed ingredient which can enhance the concentration of mammalian lignan enterolactone in milk . Thus, despite the ruminal biotransformation of dietary phenolic compounds, those present in milk are likely to be incorporated directly from the diet.…”

“…12 Similarly, flaxseed meal is a feed ingredient which can enhance the concentration of mammalian lignan enterolactone in milk. 13 Thus, despite the ruminal biotransformation of dietary phenolic compounds, those present in milk are likely to be incorporated directly from the diet. Due to the fact that phenolic compounds appear to be specific to the plant species or botanical family, it has been suggested that the phenolic composition of milk may be used to establish a fingerprint for tracing the diet of the animal.…”

Intake and digestibility of fatty acids in late-lactating dairy cows fed flaxseed hulls supplemented with monensin

“…Flaxseed hulls contain 29•4% ether extract and most of it is digested in the rumen as shown by higher digestibility of ether extract when hulls are administered in the rumen than when they are administered in the abomasum (Kazama et al 2010). However, although flaxseed hulls are a rich source of n À 3 FA (Petit et al 2009), there is no information on the effect of flaxseed hull supplementation on digestibility of fatty acids.…”