Influence of Sunflower Whole Seeds or Oil on Ruminal Fermentation, Milk Production, Composition, and Fatty Acid Profile in Lactating Goats.

T A Morsy,O H Matloup,A E Kholif,A Z M Salem,S M Kholif,A Abu Elella

doi:10.5713/ajas.14.0850

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of sunflower seeds, either as whole or as oil, on rumen fermentation, milk production, milk composition and fatty acids profile in dairy goats. Fifteen lactating Damascus goats were divided randomly into three groups (n = 5) fed a basal diet of concentrate feed mixture and fresh Trifolium alexandrinum at 50:50 on dry matter basis (Control) in addition to 50 g/head/d sunflower seeds whole (SS) or 20 mL/head/d sunflower seeds oil (SO) in a complete randomized design. Milk was sampled every two weeks during 90 days of experimental period for chemical analysis and rumen was sampled at 30, 60, and 90 days of the experiment for ruminal pH, volatile fatty acids (tVFA), and ammonia-N determination. Addition of SO decreased (p = 0.017) ruminal pH, whereas SO and SS increased tVFA (p<0.001) and acetate (p = 0.034) concentrations. Serum glucose increased (p = 0.013) in SO and SS goats vs Control. The SO and SS treated goats had improved milk yield (p = 0.007) and milk fat content (p = 0.002). Moreover, SO increased milk lactose content (p = 0.048) and feed efficiency (p = 0.046) compared to Control. Both of SS and SO increased (p<0.05) milk unsaturated fatty acids content specially conjugated linolenic acid (CLA) vs Control. Addition of SS and SO increased (p = 0. 021) C18:3N3 fatty acid compared to Control diet. Data suggested that addition of either SS or SO to lactating goats ration had beneficial effects on milk yield and milk composition with enhancing milk content of healthy fatty acids (CLA and omega 3), without detrimental effects on animal performance.

Highlights

Goat milk has been identified as an alternative for human consumers who are either sensitive or allergic to cow's milk (Dixit et al, 2012)
Addition of seeds oil to lactating dairy cows ration was one of the methods to change the proportion of total unsaturated fatty acids (FA) (TUFA) in milk fat by about 40%, extensive biohydrogenation occurs normally in the rumen (Dschaak et al, 2009)
Sunflower whole seeds would be a good choice from a consumer point of view, as it is rich in polyunsaturated FA (PUFA)

Summary

Introduction

Goat milk has been identified as an alternative for human consumers who are either sensitive or allergic to cow's milk (Dixit et al, 2012). Lipid composition is one of the most important components of the nutritional quality of goat milk. The nutritional advantage of goat milk fat compared to cow's milk may been attributed to the high content of C6:0 to C10:0 fatty acids (FA), the high percentage of the short- and medium-chain FA, and to the small size of fat globules; making goat's dairy. Addition of seeds oil to lactating dairy cows ration was one of the methods to change the proportion of total unsaturated FA (TUFA) in milk fat by about 40%, extensive biohydrogenation occurs normally in the rumen (Dschaak et al, 2009).

Objectives

Methods

Results