Effects of feeding UFA-rich cold-pressed oilseed cakes and sainfoin on dairy ewes’ milk fatty acid profile and curd sensory properties

Publication date: Available online 20 April 2019Source: Small Ruminant ResearchAuthor(s): A. Pascual, C. Pineda-Quiroga, I. Goiri, R. Atxaerandio, R. Ruiz, A. García-RodríguezAbstractA lactation study was carried out utilizing 72 ewes in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement involving two forages: Tall fescue (FES) and sainfoin (SAIN) hays; and 3 concentrates, which contained hydrogenated prilled palm fat (CTR), cold-pressed sunflower cake (SUN) or cold-pressed rapeseed cake (RPS) as fat sources. Ewes were divided into 6 equilibrated groups of 12 ewes each, according to milk yield and days in milk. Concentrates were offered individually and forage was group fed ad libitum. Milk yield was daily recorded; individual samples of milk were taken for fat, protein, lactose and for fatty acid (FA) composition analysis. Dry matter intake (DMI) and organic matter apparent digestibility (OMD) were estimated using two markers. Feeding behaviour was recorded for 48 h. Blood samples were collected for non-esterified fatty acids, blood urea nitrogen and IGF-1 determinations. Curd acceptance test was carried out using a non-trained sensory panel using a 10-point line scale for the attributes of appearance, flavour, odour, texture and overall acceptability. Milk yield and composition were analysed using the MIXED procedure for repeated measures with fixed effects of concentrate, forage and week, their interaction and the initial record measured at week 0 as covariate, and day and ewe as rand...
Source: Small Ruminant Research - Category: Zoology Source Type: research