Improving the Fatty Acid Profile of Dairy Cow’s Milk Using the Prepared Innovative Feed

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of prepared innovative feed (PIF) on the saturated and unsaturated fatty acid profiles of dairy cow milk. PIF was composed of rape seed meal, sunflower meal, protected fat, source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium carbonate, monocalcium phosphate (MCP), sodium bicarbonate, and vitamin mineral premix. Dairy cows were divided into two groups (10 cows/group) including a control group (CG) fed basal diet without any nutritional supplements and experimental group (EG) fed basal diet + 1.5 kg PIF/cow/day of the new products. The PIF resulted to change the overall fatty acid content of the milk from the experimental cows and raised the levels of UFA from 64.164% to 73.229%. The SFA content slightly decreased from 35.607% to 26.910%. Furthermore, the PUFA content has elevated from 37.824% (CG) to 45.415% (EG). Not significant difference was recorded for n3, n6 and the n6/n3 ratio (p≥0.05). In conclusion during the experimental period the content of SFA tended to decrease, while the amount of UFA has increased notably (p≤0.05). Similar observations were also noticed for PUFA and MUFA. The inclusion of PIF as dietary supplement in dairy cows modified the fatty acid profile of milk, with major impact on consumer health.

Keywords

• milk fatty acid composition, romanian spotted cattle, feed supplementation, unsaturated fatty acid (ufa), polyunsaturated fatty acids (pufa)