Effects of administration of VITALG DHA on DHA concentration in bovine milk
Presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in different types of food is a topic which attracts the attention of the public opinion because the benefits of PUFA on human health have been shown by many studies.
| RESPONSABLE OF PROJECT: | Prof. Erminio Trevisi |
|---|---|
| RESPONSABLE OF PROCEDURES: | Dott. Fiorenzo Piccioli Cappelli |
| SPONSOR: | ARCA prodotti (www.prodottiarca.it) |
| DURATION: | 6 months (17/09/2021 --> 29/04/2022) |
Prof. Erminio Trevisi
President, Cerzoo Srl - Research Center for livestock and environment
Full Professor in Animal Science, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Piacenza and Cremona
Dott. Fiorenzo Piccioli Cappelli
Researcher, Università Cattolica del S. Cuore, Piacenza and Cremona
Background
Presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids in different types of food is a topic which attracts the attention of the public opinion because the benefits of PUFA on human health have been shown by many studies.
Among PUFA which contribute mostly to human health there are acids of the omega-3 series, particularly the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a semi-essential fatty acid, which doesn't belong to the normal polyunsaturated fatty acids pool of food (vegetal and animal products) and also of milk, except seafood products. Therefore, an eventual DHA transfer in milk fat may increase the nutritional benefits of milk.
Aim
The research valued the effects of the administration of a supplement with algae in dairy cows during the intermediate phase of lactation, with a focus on the DHA transfer in milk fat. Investigation has been made on 30 cows divided in two homogeneous groups in the experimental farm of CERZOO srl.
To the unifeed of 15 bovines 300 g/d of the lipidic supplement containing 11% of cis-4,7,10,13,16,19 docosahexaenoic acid have been added (DHA group), while to the unifeed of cows in the control group (CTR) 300 g/d of a supplement integrated with saturated fatty acids have been added, in order to have the same energy intake in the two groups.
Checks
- Chemical and nutritional composition of diets;
- Health and welfare status;
- Time of resting;
- State of fattening (BCS);
- Daily rumination activity;
- Daily body weight;
- Milk yield in order to evaluate the concentration of fat, lactose and protein, electric conductivity (AFILAB system), coagulation attitude, urea, somatic cells (FTIR) and fatty acids content, (especially DHA);
Results
DHA administration comported some changes in milk fatty acids composition. Milk production and protein concentration were not affected by the treatment, but fat concentration was slightly lower in the DHA group. In treated cows the concentration of long chain fatty acids was higher, in particular trans fatty acids and the DHA, whose concentration was 11 times higher than the control group.
However, the DHA transfer from the diet to the milk was pretty low (5,4%), it was caused probably by a not perfect rumen protection, that caused also a partial biohydrogenation of fatty acids and the synthesis of trans fatty acids. In fact in the DHA thesis there was an interference in the mammal neosynthesis of fatty acids, and it is demonstrated by an increase of C18:1 and the conjugated fatty acid CLA. Also these fatty acids have a positive effect on consumer's health, as shown by many researches. The low transfer of DHA in milk may be also justified by other factors like the accumulation in the adipose tissue.
In this regard the state of fattening of DHA bovines at the end of the experiment has to be remarked, and it was higher than CTR. Also in the hematic lipids the DHA concentration may be higher, in fact this fact seems to be confirmed by the prolonged DHA content in milk in the DHA group after the suspension of the supplement.
Other information
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