Effects of Extruded Linseed and Soybean Dietary Supplementation on Lactation Performance, First-Service Conception Rate, and Mastitis Incidence in Holstein Dairy Cows.

Ahmed Dawod,Hamada Ahmed,Ayman A Swelum,Hani A Ba-Awadh,Ibrahim A Alhidary,Hamed T Elbaz,Islam M Saadeldin,Reham Abou-Elkhair,Adham A Al-Sagheer,Muath Q Al-Ghadi,Ayman E Taha,Elsayed O S Hussein

doi:10.3390/ani10030436

Abstract

Simple SummaryNatural and processed fat supplements directly affect milk yield and composition in cows. Oilseed extrusion is a heat-treatment process used for seeds fed to ruminants to prevent rumen biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids. This process increases postruminal fat absorption when compared with the effects of feeding whole oilseeds. Hence, we investigated the effects of feeding a mixture of extruded linseed and soybean on lactation performance, first service conception rate, and mastitis incidence in Holstein dairy cows. We found that supplementing dairy cow feed with a mixture of extruded linseed and soybean at a rate of 100 g/kg feed increased milk yield and both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid content. However, incidences of clinical mastitis and first-service conception rates were not affected by extruded linseed and soybean supplementation.This study quantifies the effects of extruded linseed and soybean (ELS) dietary supplementation on milk yield, composition, and fatty acid profiles, as well as first-service conception rate in Holstein dairy cows. Seventy-eight open Holstein dairy cows were divided into two groups: (1) a control, which received a basal diet; and (2) a test group, which received a basal diet supplemented with the ELS (650 g/kg of extruded linseed and 150 g/kg of extruded soybean) at a rate of 100 g/kg. In the ELS group, milk yield per day and solid not fat (SNF) yield increased by 3.26% and 0.88%, respectively, in relation to the control. Percentage milk fat decreased significantly by 1.4% in the ELS group when compared with the control. The ELS supplement resulted in a decrease in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and an increase in monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in milk. In conclusion, the supplementation of dairy cow feed with 100 g/kg of ELS increases milk yield and milk unsaturated fatty acids (especially MUFAs and PUFAs). ELS supplementation also causes a decrease in percentage fat and SFA levels but does not affect the first-service conception rate or the incidence rate of mastitis.

Highlights

The onset of lactation is a critical period for high-production dairy cows, when many physiological and nutritional changes tend to occur
Dairy cows fed rations supplemented with extruded linseed and soybean (ELS) showed significant increases in average daily milk yields (3.26%; p = 0.02) and percentage solid not fat (SNF) (0.88%; p = 0.05) compared with cows in the control group (Table 4)
A significantly (p = 0.04) higher protein yield per day was observed in the ELS group compared to the control (Table 4)

Summary

Introduction

The onset of lactation is a critical period for high-production dairy cows, when many physiological and nutritional changes tend to occur. Increasing diet energy content may limit the length and severity of this negative energy balance while maintaining milk yield in high-lactating dairy cows. Feeding high-yielding cows with rumen-bypass fats increases the energy content of the diet without the need to increase the starch content or decrease the fiber intake [1]. This avoids disruption of rumen functions [1]. Diet supplementation with fat affects milk yield [2], milk fat [3], and days in milk (DIM) [4]. These effects may depend upon the nature of the fat supplement, how it is processed, and the quantity of fat added to the diet [5]

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