Evaluation of Camelina Meal as a Dietary Source of Polyphenol for Dairy Cows

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine, through the polyphenols content in plasma, the short-term effectsof replacing the more classical suno€lower meal with camelina meal in a diet for dairy cows in a lowinputsystem. A preliminary feeding trial was organised on 16 dairy cows, randomly distributed in twogroups (control vs camelina meal). The total polyphenols from plasma, feed compound and camelinameal were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. In comparison with control, the total polyphenolcontent was higher in the diet containing camelina (275.67±15.19mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE))/lvs 189.37±8.67 mg GAE/l). In the plasma of cows fed with camelina diet 12.31±7.17 mg (GAE)/l werefound, but in the plasma of the control group fed with the regular diet no polyphenols were detected.The camelina meal included in the diet had 2655.27±36.56 mg GAE/l polyphenols. Our analysis showthe presence of polyphenols in plasma of the cows fed with camelina meal enriched diet. The ratio ofpolyphenol absorption from the fed was 1:23. These results open new perspectives in studying the effectof camelina polyphenols on cattle metabolism.