HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Petit, H. V. Articles by Lebel, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Petit, H. V. Articles by Lebel, D.

Effect of Feeding Whole, Unprocessed Sunflower Seeds and Flaxseed on Milk Production, Milk Composition, and Prostaglandin Secretion in Dairy Cows¹

¹ Dairy and Swine Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lennoxville QC J1M 1Z3 Canada
² Département de Biologie, Université de Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1 Canada

Corresponding author: H. V. Petit; e-mail: petith{at}agr.gc.ca.

Four multiparous Holstein cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin-square design experiment to study the effects of different fat sources on milk production and composition, N utilization, follicular development, and prostaglandin secretion. Cows were fed 4 total mixed rations (TMR) based either on calcium salts of palm oil (Megalac), whole flaxseed, whole sunflower seed, or no supplementary fat (control). Feed intake and digestibilities were generally similar among treatments, except that ether extract digestibility was the lowest for cows fed the control diet. Milk yields were greater for cows fed whole flaxseed and Megalac (32.1 and 31.5 kg/d, respectively) than for those fed sunflower seed and control (25.9 and 24.8 kg/d, respectively). Milk protein concentration was significantly lower for cows fed Megalac (3.68%) compared with those fed flaxseed (3.87%) or control (3.92%). Concentrations of n-3 fatty acids and the n-6 to n-3 fatty acids ratio in milk were the highest and lowest, respectively, for cows fed whole flaxseed. There was an interaction between treatment and time for levels of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF₂ in plasma; they were greater 30 and 45 min after the oxytocin challenge for cows that were fed sunflower seed compared with those fed either Megalac, flaxseed, or control. Moreover, when concentrations of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF₂ in plasma were expressed as the area under the overall response curve from 0 to 120 min after the oxytocin injection, it tended to be greater for cows that were fed the sunflower diet compared with those fed either Megalac or flaxseed. In general, follicle dynamics were similar among treatments. These results suggest that feeding diets with high proportions of n-6 fatty acids (61% of total fatty acids for the sunflower seed diet) tended to increase the secretion of series 2 prostaglandins in blood.

Key Words: flaxseed • fatty acids • ovarian function • prostaglandins

Abbreviation key: CL = corpus luteum, CON = concentrate without fat, FA = fatty acids, FLA = concentrate based on whole flaxseed, MEG = concentrate based on calcium salts of palm oil (Megalac), PG = prostaglandins, PGFM = 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF₂, SUN = concentrate based on whole sunflower seed

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Glasser, A. Ferlay, and Y. Chilliard Oilseed Lipid Supplements and Fatty Acid Composition of Cow Milk: A Meta-Analysis J Dairy Sci, December 1, 2008; 91(12): 4687 - 4703. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Castaneda-Gutierrez, B. C. Benefield, M. J. de Veth, N. R. Santos, R. O. Gilbert, W. R. Butler, and D. E. Bauman Evaluation of the Mechanism of Action of Conjugated Linoleic Acid Isomers on Reproduction in Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, September 1, 2007; 90(9): 4253 - 4264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. Wathes, D. R. E. Abayasekara, and R. J. Aitken Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Male and Female Reproduction Biol Reprod, August 1, 2007; 77(2): 190 - 201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. C. da Silva, G. T. Santos, A. F. Branco, J. C. Damasceno, R. Kazama, M. Matsushita, J. A. Horst, W. B. R. dos Santos, and H. V. Petit Production Performance and Milk Composition of Dairy Cows Fed Whole or Ground Flaxseed With or Without Monensin J Dairy Sci, June 1, 2007; 90(6): 2928 - 2936. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. H. Moussavi, R. O. Gilbert, T. R. Overton, D. E. Bauman, and W. R. Butler Effects of Feeding Fish Meal and n-3 Fatty Acids on Ovarian and Uterine Responses in Early Lactating Dairy Cows J Dairy Sci, January 1, 2007; 90(1): 145 - 154. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Ambrose, J. P. Kastelic, R. Corbett, P. A. Pitney, H. V. Petit, J. A. Small, and P. Zalkovic Lower pregnancy losses in lactating dairy cows fed a diet enriched in alpha-linolenic acid. J Dairy Sci, August 1, 2006; 89(8): 3066 - 3074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]