Effects of supplementation with omega-3 and omega-6 sources about the productive efficiency and milk composition of Holstein cows

Abstract

Currently the food market presents a high demand of production, besides the preference of the population for more nutritious and healthy products. The presence of vegetable oils in dairy cow ration shows many benefits, both in relation to the production and the quality of the milk produced. The presence of specific fatty acids from vegetable oils modifies the fat profile present, leaving the final product healthier for human consumption, taking into account the expected health benefits. These facts result in this study, which aims to analyze the effects of vegetable oils from soybean and linseed, being sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which included in the diet of lactating Holstein cows may interfere with milk production and composition. The project will take place in the city of Pirassununga, where 30 lactating cows will be divided into three different diets: a control diet, a diet containing one source of omega-3 and one source of omega-6. Thus, it will be analyzed if the different sources of fatty acids exert effects on the productive parameters of the cows, and consequently if there will be modifications in the nutritional composition of the milk, presenting greater benefits in parameters related to human health. They will be divided into randomized blocks according to the number of lactations of each one, and the data will be analyzed later using the statistical package SAS (2000). (AU)