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Effects of feeding micronised flaxseed on yield and composition of milk from Holstein cows
Author(s) -
Mustafa AF,
Chouinard PY,
Christensen DA
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.1430
Subject(s) - lactose , dry matter , composition (language) , lactation , food science , fatty acid , chemistry , milk fat , polyunsaturated fatty acid , latin square , nutrient , zoology , biology , biochemistry , rumen , linseed oil , pregnancy , linguistics , philosophy , genetics , organic chemistry , fermentation
Abstract Nine multiparous Holstein cows were used in three 3 × 3 Latin squares to investigate the effects of feeding unheated and micronised flaxseed on milk yield and milk fatty acid composition. Three diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of dairy cows in early lactation: a control diet with no added flaxseed (NFS), an unheated flaxseed diet (UFS) and a micronised flaxseed diet (MFS). The level of flaxseed in UFS and MFS was 70 g kg −1 of the diet dry matter (DM). Feeding flaxseed to dairy cows had no effect on DM intake or milk yield. However, energy‐corrected milk was higher ( P < 0.05) for cows fed MFS than for those fed UFS or NFS. Supplemental flaxseed reduced ( P < 0.05) the milk fat percentage without affecting the concentration of milk protein or milk lactose. However, the yield of milk components was not affected by feeding flaxseed. The concentrations of short‐chain (C 4:0 to C 12:0 ) and medium‐chain (C 14:0 to C 17:0 ) fatty acids were decreased ( P < 0.05) while those of long‐chain fatty acids (C 18:0 to C 18:3 ) were increased ( P < 0.05) in the milk of cows fed UFS and MFS compared with cows fed NSF. Feeding flaxseed to dairy cows can alter the milk fatty acid composition, but only minor effects on milk fatty acid composition can be expected by feeding micronised versus unheated flaxseed. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry