Effect of feeding oilseed supplements to dairy cows on ruminal and milk fatty acid composition

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of oilseed-based supplements, rapeseed and linseed, against a barley-based control, on the fatty acid composition, and subsequent solid fat ratio, of the milk fat from dairy cows. In addition, as a means of understanding the digestive processes which influence the milk fat composition, ruminal extracts were collected from the cows and analysed for fatty acid composition. Four lactating dairy cows each fitted with a rumen fistula were provided with silage and one of four concentrate diets. The main constituent of the concentrate supplements was either rapeseed (ground or unground), linseed (unground) or a barley control. The diets were offered in accordance with a 4 x 4 Latin square arrangement. The oilseed-supplemented concentrates provided the cows with 620-640g fatty acids day (-1). Experimental treatments were provided to the cows for 2 weeks, after which ruminal extracts were collected over a 24h period and a milk sample was taken. All extracts were analysed for fatty acid composition. The diets fed influenced the long-chain fatty acid composition of the ruminal extracts and milk fat. The proportion of C18:1n-9 in the ruminal extracts increased from 202-224 to 282-321 g kg 1 of the total fatty acids when the cows were provided with the rapeseed-based diets. The linseed-based diet increased the C18:1n-9 proportion of the ruminal extracts from 164 to 218g kg(-1) of the total fatty acids. Both rapeseed-based diets also resulted in a higher proportion of C18:0 in the ruminal extract, possibly owing to biohydrogenation of the dietary fatty acids. This proportion of C18:0 in the ruminal extract was lowest immediately after feeding, increasing to a maximum 4-6h later. Both rapeseed-based concentrates increased the proportion of C18:1n-9 in the milk fat to approximately 300g kg(-1) of the total fatty acids as compared with 214gkg(-1) for the control. The proportion of C18:1n-9 in the milk fat from the cows offered the linseed-based concentrate was 246g kg(-1) of the total fatty acids. There were also significant decreases in the proportions of C16:0 in the milk fat from the cows offered all oilseed-based concentrates. There was no difference between the fatty acid compositions of the milk fats from the cows fed the ground or unground rapeseed-based supplements. The oilseed-based supplements also resulted in significant decreases in the solid fat content of the milk fat at temperatures ranging from 0 to 35 degreesC, which would be indicative of a softer, more spreadable butter. (C) 2002 Society of Chemical Industry.