<b>Effects of sunflower oilseed supplementation on fatty acid profile and milk composition from Holstein cows</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v26i1.1972

Abstract

Two groups of animals (control diet and control diet supplemented with sunflower) were evaluated in three lactation phases (0 to 60; 61 to 90; and 91 to 120 days in milk). During phase I, cows fed without sunflower showed higher concentrations of capric, lauric, palmitic, and araquidic acids. Only stearic acid had low concentrations during this phase. Cows fed with sunflower presented a reduction in the concentration of saturated fatty acids during phases I and II. During phase III, there was a concentration decrease of lauric, miristic, and pentadecilic acids in the sunflower-fed cow’s milk Adding sunflower to cow’s diet altered the profile of milk fatty acids. Milk nutrients were not altered by adding sunflower to the diet, excepting milk protein concentration, which registered decreases of 3.6% in phase I, 3.4% in phase II and 6.7% in phase III.