Milk fatty acids as covariates in multiple regression analysis is a robust approach to model the decrease in milk fat concentration and yield in small ruminants.

Milk fat depression (MFD) syndrome has been associated with the antilipogenic effects of trans-10 fatty acids (FA), such as t10, c12-CLA (CLA) and t10-18:1 (T10). However, these FA alone cannot completely explain the changes in milk fat in small ruminants. Thus, the aim of this study was to use multiple regression analysis to evaluate other FA that may be related to shifts in milk fat, as well as to improve model accuracy when different milk FA are used as covariates in the models. Previously published data were used in multiple regression analysis for goats (n = 106) and ewes (n = 68). Body weight (BW), vaccenic acid (t11-18:1), both trans-10 FA and the major milk FA were tested as covariates to model four response variables associated with MFD: fat concentration (FC), percentage change in milk fat concentration (CFC; %), fat yield (FY; g/d) and percentage change in milk fat yield (CFY; %). All four multiple regression models were significant for both species. When compared with simple regression models, all multiple regression models improved accuracy when estimating MFD. The improvements in model accuracy (lower RMSE) for FC, CFC, FY and CFY were 60.6%, 43.3%, 35.6% and 44.4% for ewes, and 52.1%, 60.1%, 33.6% and 14.9% for goats respectively. Linolenic acid and t11-18:1 were covariates in all models for goats, and palmitic acid and CLA were covariates in all ewe models. These FA should be investigated regarding their direct effect on gene expression associated with milk fat metabolism in the mammary gland of small ruminants. Multiple regression analysis is the most robust approach to account for the variation of milk fat and yield in goats and ewes.

Nutritional and physicochemical quality of formulations based on colostrum and bovine whey.

The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional quality of bovine colostrum and whey mixtures. Five whey with bovine colostrum formulations were prepared (90:10; 80:20; 70:30; 60:40 and 50:50 whey:colostrum v:v) to be subjected to low-temperature pasteurization (63°C to 65°C for 30 minutes) and freeze-drying. The samples underwent chemical composition characterization, fatty acid profile analysis, determination of contamination by Enterobacteriaceae, pH, and Dornic acidity measurements before and after vat pasteurization. The amount of protein, fat, total solids, defatted dry extract, Brix and density increased as the bovine colostrum concentration increased. The level of saturated fatty acids and the thrombogenicity and atherogenicity indices reduced, while unsaturated fatty acids increased as the level of added bovine colostrum increased. The low-temperature pasteurization of the formulations was possible and effective, eliminating contamination by Enterobacteriaceae in the samples. Mixing bovine colostrum and whey reduced the colostrum viscosity, allowing a successful pasteurization procedure. Due to colostrum composition, the formulations yielded a higher nutritional value when compared to whey alone. The parameters applied in the formulation of mixtures of bovine colostrum and whey resulted in valuable ingredients for preparing novel dairy products.

Stearic acid does not overcome conjugated linoleic acid trans-10, cis-12-induced milk fat depression in lactating ewes.

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that stearic acid (SA) supplementation increases milk fat content and overcomes the antilipogenic effects of trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in lactating ewes. Twenty-eight Lacaune ewes (36 (sd 2) days in lactation; 70·5 (sd) 9·6 kg of body weight), producing 1·8 (sd 0·4) kg of milk/d, were used in a completely randomised design (seven ewes/treatment) for 21 d. The treatments were: (1) Control; (2) CLA (6·4 g/d of trans-10, cis-12 CLA); (3) SA (28 g/d of SA) and (4) SA in association with trans-10, cis-12 CLA (CLASA; 6·4 g/d of trans-10, cis-12 CLA plus 28 g/d of SA). All data were analysed using a mixed model that included the fixed effect of treatment and the random effect of ewe. SA did not alter milk fat content and yield relative to Control (91·9 v. 91·2 (sd 4·1) g/d). CLASA was not able to overcome the reduction in fat content and fat yield induced by CLA (75 v. 82 (sd 0·14) g/d). SA increased the relative abundance of CD36, fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) and PPAR-γ mRNA by 140, 112 and 68 % compared with CLASA. SA also reduced the relative abundance of acetyl-CoA carboxylase α promoter II and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) when compared with Control (45 and 39 %). Compared with CLA, CLASA treatment had no effect on the mRNA abundance of fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase, CD36, SCD, FABP4, acylglycerolphosphate acyltransferase 6, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and PPAR-γ. In conclusion, SA supplementation did not increase milk fat synthesis and did not overcome the CLA-induced milk fat depression when associated with trans-10, cis-12 CLA.

In vitro rumen biohydrogenation kinetics of mixed linoleic and alfa-linolenic acids / Cinética de biohidrogenación ruminal in vitro de los ácidos linoleico y alfa-linolénico mezclados / Cinética de biohidrogenação ruminal in vitro dos ácidos linoleico e alfa-linolênico misturados

Abstract Background: Dietary linoleic (LA) and alpha-linolenic (LN) acids are extensively isomerized and hydrogenated by rumen microbes, and this activity can further contribute to the fatty acid profile of ruminant- derived food products. Objective: To evaluate the effects of LA:LN ratio in lipid supplements on the rumen biohydrogenation kinetics of LA and LN, as well as on the trans-vaccenic acid (VA) production, using an in vitro system. Methods: Rumen fluid was collected from a fistulated steer, diluted with incubation buffer, and then incubated with 500 mg of kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus) supplemented with 16.3 mg of different LA:LN mixtures (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 or 0:100). Incubations were performed in triplicate for a period of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 16 hours. Differences between treatments were evaluated in a completely randomized design. Alternatively, computational chemistry was used to determine the changes in the Gibbs free energy (ΔGrxn) at 39 °C for the principal steps of LA and LN ruminal biohydrogenation. Results: Partial replacement of LA by LN decreased the VA concentration and its accumulation rate; it also increased the stearic acid concentration and the rates of transfer from LA to conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and from CLA to VA. The conversion from CLA to VA (ΔGrxn = -2.65 kJ/mol) was more spontaneous than that from trans-11, cis-15 octadecadienoic acid (TA) to VA (ΔGrxn = -0.29 kJ/mol). Conclusion: The LA:LN ratio in lipids can modulate LA and LN biohydrogenation (BH) kinetics, as well as the VA production in the rumen.

Resumen Antecedentes: los ácidos linoleico (LA) y alfa-linolénico (LN) de la dieta son extensivamente isomerizados y biohidrogenados por los microorganismos ruminales, lo cual puede contribuir al perfil de ácidos grasos de los productos derivados de rumiantes. Objetivo: evaluar el efecto de la relación LA:LN en suplementos lipídicos sobre la cinética de biohidrogenación ruminal del LA y LN, como también sobre la producción del ácido trans-vaccénico (VA), usando un sistema in vitro. Métodos: se colectó fluido ruminal de un toro fistulado, el cual fue diluido con buffer de incubación y posteriormente incubado con 500 mg de pasto kikuyo (Cenchrus clandestinus) suplementado con 16,3 mg de diferentes mezclas de LA:LN (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, o 0:100). Las incubaciones fueron desarrolladas en triplicado durante 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 o 16 horas. Diferencias entre tratamientos fueron evaluadas mediante un modelo completamente al azar. Alternativamente, se determinaron los cambios en energía libre de Gibbs ( Δ Grxn) a 39 °C para los pasos principales de la biohidrogenación del LA y LN, usando química computacional. Resultados: la sustitución parcial de LA por LN disminuyó la concentración de VA y su tasa de acumulación, como también incrementó la concentración de ácido esteárico y las tasas de transferencia de LA para ácido linoleico conjugado (CLA) y de CLA para VA. La conversión de CLA para VA ( Δ Grxn = -2,65 kJ/mol) fue más espontánea que la conversión del ácido trans-11, cis-15 octadecadienóico (TA) para VA ( Δ Grxn = -0,29 kJ/mol). Conclusiones: la relación LA:LN en lípidos puede modular la cinética de biohidrogenación (BH) del LA y LN y la producción de VA en el rumen.

Resumo Antecedêntes: o ácido linoleico (LA) e alfa-linolênico (LN) da dieta, são extensivamente isomerizados e biohidrogenados pelos microorganismos do rúmen, o que pode contribuir ao perfil de ácidos graxos dos produtos derivados de ruminantes. Objetivo: avaliar o efeito da relação LA:LN em suplementos lipídicos sobre a cinética de biohidrogenação ruminal do LA e LN como também sobre a produção do ácido trans- vaccênico (VA), utilizando um sistema in vitro. Métodos: coletou-se fluido ruminal de um novilho fistulado, o qual foi diluído com tampão de incubação e, em seguida, incubado com 500 mg de pasto kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus) suplementado com 16,3 mg de diferentes misturas LA:LN (100:0, 75:25 , 50:50, 25:75 ou 0:100). As incubações foram desenvolvidas em triplicata, durante 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 ou 16 horas. Diferenças entre tratamentos foram avaliadas utilizando-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Alternativamente, foram determinadas as mudanças em energia livre de Gibbs ( Δ Grxn) a 39 °C para as principais etapas da biohidrogenação do LA e LN, utilizando-se química computacional. Resultados: a substituição parcial de LA por LN diminuiu a concentração de VA e sua taxa de acumulação, como também aumentou a concentração de ácido esteárico e as taxas de transferência do LA para o ácido linoleico conjugado (CLA) e do CLA para VA. A conversão do CLA para VA ( Δ Grxn = -2,65 kJ/ mol) foi mais espontânea que a conversão do ácido trans-11, cis-15 octadecadienóico (TA) para VA ( Δ Grxn = -0,29 kJ/mol). Conclusões: a relação LA:LN em lipídeos pode modular a cinética de biohidrogenação (BH) do LA e LN e a produção de VA no rúmen.