Abstract
Simple SummaryBrassica crops such as kales and swedes can be supplied to cow diets during winter. Little is known about the effects of feeding those forage brassicas to lactating cows on cheese nutritional characteristics. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of including kale or swedes in the diet of pasture-fed lactating dairy cows on chemical composition, fatty acid (FA) profile and sensory characteristics of Chanco-style cheese. Kale or swedes can be used in the diet of pasture-fed lactating dairy cows without negative effects on milk production, milk composition and cheese composition. However, with regard to cheese FA profiles, those elaborated from milks from kale and swedes increased total contents of saturated fatty acids.Brassica crops such as kale and swede can be supplied to cow diets during winter, however little is known about the effects of feeding those forage brassicas to lactating cows on cheese nutritional characteristics of milk and cheese. This study evaluated the effect of including kale or swede in pasture-fed lactating dairy cow diets on chemical composition, fatty acid (FA) profile, and sensory characteristics of Chanco-style cheese. Twelve early-lactation cows were used in a replicated (n = 4) 3 × 3 square Latin square design. The control diet consisted of (DM basis) 10.0 kg of grass silage, 4.0 kg of fresh grass pasture, 1.5 kg soybean meal, 1.0 kg of canola meal, and 4.0 kg of cereal-based concentrate. The other treatments replaced 25% of the diet with swede or kale. Milk yield, milkfat, and milk protein were similar between treatments as were cheese moisture, fat, and protein. Swede and kale increased total saturated cheese FA while thrombogenic index was greater in swede, but color homogeneity and salty flavor were greater while ripe cheese aroma less than for kale. Kale or swede can be used in the diet of pasture-fed lactating dairy cows without negative effects on milk production, milk composition, or cheese composition. However, kale and swede increased total cheese saturated FA.
Highlights
Brassicas, such as kales (Brassica oleracea (L.) ssp. acephala) and swedes (Brassica napus (L.) ssp. napobrassica), are used to supply feeds to ruminants during winter [1], a season with low pasture growth in humid temperate regions [2]
Our results on dry matter intake (DMI) could be explained by the high content of water present in kale that may have resulted in an increased rumen fill sensation that led to a decrease in feed consumption [31,32]
From a consumer perspective, this study has provided interesting results on the nutritional quality of milk and cheese from cows fed with winter forage brassicas
Summary
Brassicas, such as kales (Brassica oleracea (L.) ssp. acephala) and swedes (Brassica napus (L.) ssp. napobrassica), are used to supply feeds to ruminants during winter [1], a season with low pasture growth in humid temperate regions [2]. Napobrassica), are used to supply feeds to ruminants during winter [1], a season with low pasture growth in humid temperate regions [2]. Acephala) and swedes (Brassica napus (L.) ssp. They can offer high DM production and nutritional quality in a short period of time, which is related with high metabolisable energy (ME), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and low content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) [3,4]. In terms of sugar content (raffinose, sucrose, glucose, fructose), swede bulbs are higher (32%) than whole plant kale (18%).
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