Freeze-dried Nannochloropsis oceanica biomass protects eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from metabolization in the rumen of lambs

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from freeze-dried biomass of Nannochloropsis oceanica microalgae resists ruminal biohydrogenation in vitro, but in vivo demonstration is needed. Therefore, the present study was designed to test the rumen protective effects of N. oceanica in lambs. Twenty-eight lambs were assigned to one of four diets: Control (C); and C diets supplemented with: 1.2% Nannochloropsis sp. oil (O); 12.3% spray-dried N. oceanica (SD); or 9.2% N. oceanica (FD), to achieve 3 g EPA /kg dry matter. Lambs were slaughtered after 3 weeks and digestive contents and ruminal wall samples were collected. EPA concentration in the rumen of lambs fed FD was about 50% higher than lambs fed SD or O diets. Nevertheless, the high levels of EPA in cecum and faeces of animals fed N. oceanica biomass, independently of the drying method, suggests that EPA was not completely released and absorbed in the small intestine. Furthermore, supplementation with EPA sources also affected the ruminal biohydrogenation of C18 fatty acids, mitigating the shift from the t10 biohydrogenation pathways to the t11 pathways compared to the Control diet. Overall, our results demonstrate that FD N. oceanica biomass is a natural rumen-protected source of EPA to ruminants.

Evaluating the Inclusion of Cold-Pressed Rapeseed Cake in the Concentrate for Dairy Cows upon Ruminal Biohydrogenation Process, Ruminal Microbial Community and Milk Production and Acceptability

The aim of this trial was to assess the effect of feeding a concentrate including cold-pressed rapeseed cake (CPRC) on productive performance, milk quality and its sensory properties, ruminal biohydrogenation, and bacterial communities. Eighteen cows were paired, and two experimental diets (control vs. CPRC) were distributed within the pair. Concentrates were iso-energetic and iso-proteic and contained similar amounts of fat. The average days in milk, milk yield, and body weight of the animals were (mean ± SD) 172 ± 112 d, 585 ± 26 kg, and 25.4 ± 6.2 kg/d, respectively. The experiment lasted for 10 wk. Feeding CPRC resulted in lower ruminal saturated (p < 0.001) and higher monounsaturated (p = 0.002) fatty acids. Feeding CPRC increased Ruminococcus, Prevotella, and Entodinium but decreased Blautia; p-75-a5; undefined genera within orders Clostridiaceae and RF39 and within families Christensenellaceae, Lachnospiracease, and Ruminococcaceae; and fungi from the phylum neocallimastigomycota. The milk fatty acid profile was characterized by a lower n6:n3 ratio (p = 0.028). Feeding CPRC did not affect the milk yield, milk quality, or fat corrected milk (p > 0.05). Feeding CPRC improved the overall milk acceptability (p = 0.047). In conclusion, CPRC affected some microbial taxa, modified the biohydrogenation process, and improved the milk fatty acid profile and consumer acceptance without detrimental effects on milk production and composition.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids: A Sustainable Alternative to Improve Beef Production Efficiency

Global beef production must increase in the next decades to meet the demands of a growing population, while promoting sustainable use of limited natural resources. Supplementing beef cattle with omega-6 fatty acids (FAs) is a nutritional approach shown to enhance production efficiency, with research conducted across different environments and sectors of the beef industry. Omega-6 FA from natural feed ingredients such as soybean oil are highly susceptible to ruminal biohydrogenation. Hence, our and other research groups have used soybean oil in the form of Ca soaps (CSSO) to lessen ruminal biohydrogenation, and maximize delivery of omega-6 FA to the duodenum for absorption. In cow–calf systems, omega-6 FA supplementation to beef cows improved pregnancy success by promoting the establishment of early pregnancy. Cows receiving omega-6 FA during late gestation gave birth to calves that were healthier and more efficient in the feedlot, suggesting the potential role of omega-6 FA on developmental programming. Supplementing omega-6 FA to young cattle also elicited programming effects toward improved adipogenesis and carcass quality, and improved calf immunocompetence upon a stress stimulus. Cattle supplemented with omega-6 FA during growing or finishing periods also experienced improved performance and carcass quality. All these research results were generated using cattle of different genetic composition (Bos taurus and B. indicus influenced), and in different environments (tropical, subtropical, and temperate region). Hence, supplementing omega-6 FA via CSSO is a sustainable approach to enhance the production efficiency of beef industries across different areas of the world.

Little Difference in Milk Fatty Acid and Terpene Composition Among Three Contrasting Dairy Breeds When Grazing a Biodiverse Mountain Pasture

In the mountains, autochthonous and robust breeds are often used to valorize biodiverse grasslands. Along with their lower nutrient requirements, compared to specialized dairy breeds, they are expected to be better adapted to complex environments and valorize grasslands into dairy products of high quality. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the grazing selection of three contrasting dairy breeds on a biodiverse mountain pasture, and its consequences on milk fatty acid (FA) profile and prevalence of individual terpenes. A dual-purpose breed from the Italian Alps, the Valdostana Red Pied (Va), was compared to Montbéliardes (Mo), more specialized in milk production, and the highly specialized Holsteins (Ho). Diet selection was measured by scan-sampling, calculating selectivity indexes, and collecting simulated bites during two consecutive days in June (end of first grazing cycle) and July (second grazing cycle). Milk samples were collected at each milking during these experimental periods. Yield of milk and its fat and protein contents were measured. Milk FA and terpenes were analyzed by gas chromatographic methods. We tested the effects of breed, period and their interaction in a repeated mixed model, and calculated Pearson's correlations between behavioral data and milk FA as well as terpenes. The Va grazed less mature vegetation than Ho, but this difference was not sufficient to lead to a major breed effect on milk FA profile and prevalence of terpenes. However, the proportion of α-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) was always higher in the milk fat of Va than Ho (Mo were intermediary), but this without any correlation to grazing selection. This could be a consequence from a different metabolism concerning ruminal biohydrogenation, but must be further investigated. Finally, we confirmed previous studies that highlighted a link between milk quality and cows' grazing behavior, but here without differences among breeds. All cows adapted their behavior to the herbage evolution during the season, leading to higher proportions of unsaturated FA in July than June milks. Our study suggests that under mountain grazing conditions (biodiverse pasture and cows in late lactation), milk quality depends more on herbage composition than on cow breed.

In vitro ruminal biohydrogenation of C18 fatty acids in mixtures of Indigofera zollingeriana and Brachiaria decumbens

This research was aimed at studying the in vitro ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) of C18 fatty acids (FA) in mixtures of Indigofera zollingeriana and Brachiaria decumbens. Four combinations of experimental rations of I. zollingeriana : B. decumbens were tested i.e., IZ 1 (45%:45%), IZ 2 (60%:30%), IZ 3 (75%:15%), and IZ 4 (90%:0%). The remaining 10% in in each ration was rice bran. The experimental design was based on a completely randomized design with five replicates. Results revealed that there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.01) in the composition of C18 unsaturated FA (UFA) and saturated FA (SFA) for each in vitro incubation period of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h. The highest accumulation of C18 UFA at 24 h was observed in the incubation of IZ 4 (19.87%). The BH of C18:3, C18:2, and C18:1 showed no differences (P>0.05). Composition of C18:0 after incubation showed a significant difference (P<0.01) with the lowest composition was observed in IZ 2 (22%). In conclusion, combination of I. zollingeriana and B. decumbens at different ratio has minor inhibition effect on BH of C18 UFA.

Comparative effects of ‘solid’-fat sources as a substitute for yellow grease on digestion of diets for feedlot cattle

Five cannulated Holstein steers fed a steam-flaked corn-based growing diet containing 40% of alfalfa hay were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design to examine the effect of ‘solid’ supplemental fats as a substitute for yellow grease (YG) on the extent and site of digestion. Treatments were (% of diet DM) as follows: (1) no supplemental fat; (2) 5% YG; (3) 5.88% calcium soaps (ML); (4) 5% flaked palmitic acid (RP10); and (5) 5% hydrogenated palm fatty acid distillate (HPFAD). Supplemental fats replaced the corn in the control diet. Supplemental fat decreased (P &lt; 0.01) ruminal and total-tract digestion of organic matter and tended to decrease (P = 0.06) ruminal digestion of neutral detergent fibre, with no effects on ruminal digestion of feed N, microbial N efficiency, or total-tract digestion of N and neutral detergent fibre. With the exception of RP10, fat supplementation decreased (P &lt; 0.03) postruminal digestion of C18:0. Compared with the original C16:0:C18:0 ratio of solid fats, the C16:0:C18:0 ratio of fatty acids (FAs) entering the small intestine markedly decreased for all solid-fat treatments. Ruminal biohydrogenation of YG and ML were 73% and 49% respectively. On the basis of FA intake, postruminal FA digestion of YG, ML, RP10 and HPFAD was 0.97, 0.94, 0.92 and 0.80 of expected respectively. This experiment confirmed that postruminal digestion of total FAs of conventional supplemental yellow grease is a predictable function of total FA intake per unit of bodyweight. However, in the case sources of the solids fats, this relationship (FA intake and postruminal digestion of FAs) was less consistent. This may be due to their physical and chemical nature (saturatedFA:unsaturated FA ratio). On the basis of the nutrient digestion and postruminal FA digestibility observed in the present experiment, solid supplemental fats do not afford appreciable advantages over conventional YG when supplemented in growing diets (forage level ~400 g/kg diet DM) for feedlot steers.