Effects of calcium salts differing in fatty acid composition on duodenal and milk fatty acid profiles in dairy cows

Abstract

AbstractRuminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids (FA) was studied in vivo in relation with the fermentation pattern in the rumen and milk secretion. Calcium salts (Ca salts) of palm oil (diet 1) or rapeseed oil (diet 2) were given to dairy cows (about 650 g day−1) in a diet based on maize silage. Significant variation in propionate concentration was observed among diets. Rumen pH and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) did not change. Duodenal FA pattern was analysed throughout the day. With diets 1 and 2, linoleic acid was to a large extent biohydrogenated: calculations of ruminal biohydrogenation were equal to 63.6 and 74.0% for diets 1 and 2, respectively. No difference between diets was observed in milk production, fat and protein percentages. The percentages of stearic and octadecenoic FA in milk were higher and the percentage of palmitic acid was lower with Ca salts of rapeseed oil FA than with Ca salts of palm oil FA.