Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Does It Modify Milk Composition of Hair Sheep?

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of olive oil addition on the production, chemical composition, and fatty acid profile of sheep's milk. Twenty-four lactating ewes with a live weight of 34.6 & PLUSMN; 4.61 kg were used. The animals were randomly distributed into four treatments (n = 6) with dietary addition of 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% (dry matter basis) olive oil for 45 days. Milk samples were taken every 7 days for fatty acid (FA) and chemical analyses. A decrease (p < 0.05) in dry matter and crude protein intake was observed with 4% oil inclusion. Milk production and milk components were similar between treatments. The kilograms of meat from weaned lambs linearly increased as the oil inclusion increased. Milk C4:0 to C17:0 decreased with 2% olive oil. The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FA content in the milk increased with the oil inclusion. There was an increase in the milk's linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid content with 2% olive oil. Overall, the addition of 2% extra virgin olive oil is recommended to improve milk's FA profile without negative effects on animal performance.

Automated summary

The study aimed to investigate the impact of olive oil addition on sheep's milk production, chemical composition, and fatty acid profile. Twenty-four lactating ewes weighing 34.6 ± 4.61 kg were randomly assigned to four treatments with dietary inclusion of 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% olive oil for 45 days. Milk samples were collected weekly for fatty acid and chemical analyses. The inclusion of 4% oil resulted in a significant decrease in dry matter and crude protein intake. Overall, adding 2% extra virgin olive oil improved the fatty acid profile of milk without negative effects on animal performance.