Short communication: Effects of supplementation with pomegranate seed pulp on concentrations of conjugated linoleic acid and punicic acid in goat milk

The effects of feeding pomegranate seed pulp (PSP) on milk yield, milk composition, fatty acid profiles of milk fat, and blood metabolites were examined in this study. During a pretrial period, 27 multiparous southern Khorasan (Iran) cross-bred goats were fed a similar diet and dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk composition were recorded. After adaptation and based on pretrial records, the goats were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 experimental diets and were housed in individual stalls. Experimental diets included 0, 6, or 12% of PSP (dry matter basis) and were fed as total mixed rations ad libitum for a 45-d period. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Supplementation of PSP did not affect dry matter intake or average daily gain of goats. Milk yield was not affected by inclusion of PSP in the diet. Milk fat concentration of goats fed diets with 6 and 12% PSP increased, but milk fat yield, milk protein concentration, and milk solids-not-fat concentration of goats were not affected by diets. Feeding PSP did not affect blood glucose, cholesterol, urea N, triglyceride, or lipoproteins. Feeding goats a diet containing 12% PSP modified the milk fatty acid profile, including conjugated linoleic, punicic, and vaccenic acids.