<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding oil supplement on mammary gland development and milk production responses in Holstein cows. Ten multiparous Holstein cows (42.2±9.2 d before calving, 3.25±0.25 body condition score, and 620±35 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to treatments. Treatments were a diet with oil added as palm oil (PO; n=5), or fish oil (FO; n=5) given to cows until 63 d in milk. Milk yield was recorded daily, milk composition (fat, protein, lactose, total solid and somatic cell count) was measured weekly and fatty acid profiles of milk fat were determined at first and last week of the experiment. Samples of mammary tissue were obtained at 7 and 63 d in milk by biopsy gun. Tissue slides were analyzed by Image J software. Results showed that fish oil supplemented diet compared to the palm oil supplemented diet increased milk production after 6 weeks of lactation (P&lt;0.05), content of polyunsaturated fatty acids milk fat (P&lt;0.05) and docosahexaenoic acid (P&lt;0.01). Moreover, <italic>n-6</italic>:<italic>n-3</italic> ratio was decreased by fish oil supplement (P&lt;0.05). Histological studies showed that FO increased the relative percentage of tissue area occupied by epithelial cells as well as a number of total alveoli in each microscopic field (P&lt;0.05). Data suggested that feeding fish oil during the dry period and early lactation could improve development and function of the mammary gland in the dairy cow.</p></abstract>

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding oil supplement on mammary gland development and milk production responses in Holstein cows. Ten multiparous Holstein cows (42.2±9.2 d before calving, 3.25±0.25 body condition score, and 620±35 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to treatments. Treatments were a diet with oil added as palm oil (PO; n=5), or fish oil (FO; n=5) given to cows until 63 d in milk. Milk yield was recorded daily, milk composition (fat, protein, lactose, total solid and somatic cell count) was measured weekly and fatty acid profiles of milk fat were determined at first and last week of the experiment. Samples of mammary tissue were obtained at 7 and 63 d in milk by biopsy gun. Tissue slides were analyzed by Image J software. Results showed that fish oil supplemented diet compared to the palm oil supplemented diet increased milk production after 6 weeks of lactation (P<0.05), content of polyunsaturated fatty acids milk fat (P<0.05) and docosahexaenoic acid (P<0.01). Moreover, n-6:n-3 ratio was decreased by fish oil supplement (P<0.05). Histological studies showed that FO increased the relative percentage of tissue area occupied by epithelial cells as well as a number of total alveoli in each microscopic field (P<0.05). Data suggested that feeding fish oil during the dry period and early lactation could improve development and function of the mammary gland in the dairy cow.

Effect of Dietary Fish Oil on Mammary Gland Development and Milk Production of Holstein Cow

Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Animal Science Research Institute of Iran, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO)

Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding oil supplement on mammary gland development and milk production responses in Holstein cows. Ten...

Effect of Dietary Fish Oil on Mammary Gland Development and Milk Production of Holstein Cow

Published Online: Nov 02, 2018

Page range: 973 - 990

Received: Jun 05, 2017

Accepted: May 30, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2018-0028

Keywords
dairy cows, fat supplementation, mammary development, milk yield, milk fat, fatty acid profile

© 2018 Hoda Javaheri Barfourooshi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Effect of Dietary Fish Oil on Mammary Gland Development and Milk Production of Holstein Cow

Published Online: Nov 02, 2018

Page range: 973 - 990

Received: Jun 05, 2017

Accepted: May 30, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2018-0028

Keywordsdairy cows, fat supplementation, mammary development, milk yield, milk fat, fatty acid profile

© 2018 Hoda Javaheri Barfourooshi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
dairy cows, fat supplementation, mammary development, milk yield, milk fat, fatty acid profile