Lower Pregnancy Losses in Lactating Dairy Cows Fed a Diet Enriched in α-Linolenic Acid

• Published in: Journal of dairy science 2006-08, Vol.89 (8), p.3066-3074
• Main Authors: Ambrose, D.J., Kastelic, J.P., Corbett, R., Pitney, P.A., Petit, H.V., Small, J.A., Zalkovic, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion, Veterinary - prevention & control; alpha-Linolenic Acid - administration & dosage; alpha-Linolenic Acid - analysis; Animal Feed - analysis; Animal productions; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - analysis; blood lipids; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - prevention & control; Cholesterol - blood; conception rate; cow feeding; diameter; Diet; dietary fat; Dietary Proteins - administration & dosage; dry period; embryonic mortality; Energy Intake; fatty acid composition; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified - blood; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Flax; flaxseed; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Graafian follicles; Helianthus; Hordeum; Lactation; linolenic acid; linseed; Milk - chemistry; milk fat; Ovarian Follicle - diagnostic imaging; Ovary - diagnostic imaging; postpartum period; Pregnancy; pregnancy loss; pregnancy outcome; pregnancy rate; Progesterone - blood; Seeds; Silage; sunflower seed; Terrestrial animal productions; Triglycerides - blood; Ultrasonography; Vertebrates; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; α-linolenic acid
• ISSN: 0022-0302; 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(06)72581-4

The objectives were to determine if a diet enriched in α-linolenic acid (ALA) would influence ovarian function, early embryo survival, conception rates, and pregnancy losses in lactating dairy cows. Beginning 28 d before breeding, Holstein cows (55±22 d postpartum; mean±SD) were assigned to diets supplemented with either rolled flaxseed (FLAX; 56.7% ALA, n = 62) or rolled sunflower seed (SUNF; 0.1% ALA, n = 59) to provide approximately 750g of oil/d. Diets continued for 32 d after timed artificial insemination (TAI, d 0) following a Presynch/Ovsynch protocol. Barley silage- and barley grain-based TMR were formulated to meet or exceed National Research Council requirements. Metabolizable protein and net energy for lactation concentrations were similar in the 2 diets. Based upon a mean dry matter intake of 22 kg/d, cows fed FLAX or SUNF consumed>410g or