Abstract #209
Section: Lactation Biology (orals)
Session: Lactation Biology 1
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Monday 4:15 PM–4:30 PM
Location: Room 263
Session: Lactation Biology 1
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Monday 4:15 PM–4:30 PM
Location: Room 263
# 209
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are more abundant in colostrum than in transition and whole milk.
K. S. Hare*1, K. Hertogs2, A. Fischer1, P. Vahmani3, M. E. R. Dugan3, M. A. Steele1, 1Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, 2Department of Animal Science, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands, 3Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research and Development Centre, Lacombe, AB, Canada.
Key Words: colostrum, neonate, omega fatty acids
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are more abundant in colostrum than in transition and whole milk.
K. S. Hare*1, K. Hertogs2, A. Fischer1, P. Vahmani3, M. E. R. Dugan3, M. A. Steele1, 1Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, 2Department of Animal Science, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands, 3Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lacombe Research and Development Centre, Lacombe, AB, Canada.
Consistent increases in colostrum and transition milk fatty acids (FA) will indicate a biological necessity for the neonatal calf. The objective of this study was to infer neonatal requirements from the persistent elevation of specific FA in primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP) colostrum. Colostrum was milked (M1, 5.3 ± 0.7 h post-calving) from 10 PP and 10 MP (parity = 3.1 ± 0.4; Breevliet Farms Ltd., Wetaskiwin, AB, Canada) Holsteins that consumed the same pre- and postpartum rations. Milkings 2 to 5 (M2–5; inter-milking interval = 12.0 ± 0.3 h) and 12 (M12) were respectively termed transition and whole milk. Fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography (AAFC, Lacombe, AB, Canada). Data were analyzed by parity, milking (repeated), the parity-milking interaction (P × M), and cow (random). Differences were understood as P < 0.05 and trends were noted when 0.05 ≤ P < 0.10. Overall, PP C18:2n-6 was 0.39%-units greater (P < 0.05) and C18:3n-6 tended to be 0.008%-units greater (P = 0.06) than MP, while C20:4n-6, C20:5n-3, and C22n-3 increased (P < 0.01) by 0.08-, 0.02-, and 0.008%-units for MP compared with PP cows. The n-3 and n-6 FA (% total) were uniformly elevated (P < 0.01) at M1 compared with all other milkings. Their proportions declined (P < 0.01) abruptly by 21.5 (C18:2n-6), 30.4 (C18:3n-6), 22.4 (C20:4n-6), 36.3 (C20:5n-3), and 35.7% (C22:6n-3) at M2 and they were respectively 76.8, 53.6, 28.4, 27.4, and 35.7% of their M1 abundance at M12. C22:6n-3 was proportionally greatest at M1 due to MP colostrum having 1.6, 2.3, 2.7, and 4.0 × more (P × M, P < 0.01) C22:6n-3 at M1 than M3, M4, M5, and M12, whereas PP C22:6n-3 was 378.6, 458.9, and 296.8% less at M1, M2, and M3 than MP and did not differ between milkings. Otherwise, increased colostral n-FA was consistent between parities regardless of P × M interactions (P × M, P < 0.01: C18:2n-6, C20:4n-6, and C20:5n-3; P × M, P = 0.08: C18:3n-6). C20:4n-6, C20:5n-3, and C22:6n-3 yields were 1.46 ± 0.17, 0.32 ± 0.03, and 0.041 ± 0.007 g less (P ≤ 0.01) during M12 than M1 but stable from M1 to M5. Greater proportions and yields of n-3 and n-6 FA in colostrum indicate a neonatal requirement for n-FA.
Key Words: colostrum, neonate, omega fatty acids
