Dietary ratio of linoleic to alpha-linolenic acid affects the reproductive performance of Japanese quail.

1. This study was conducted to assess the effects of different dietary omega 6:3 ratios fed to male and female Japanese quail breeders on incubation performance, chick quality and progeny performance.2. A completely randomised design was used, with five diets containing different ratios of vegetable oils rich in linoleic acid (LA from soybean oil) or α-linolenic acid (ALA from linseed oil) with LA/ALA ratios of 13.75:1, 10.69:1, 7.63:1, 4.57:1 and 1.48:1 with 12 cage replicates containing six birds each.3. There was a quadratic effect of the LA/ALA ratio on total hatchability (p < 0.011), fertile hatchability (p = 0.046) and total mortality (p = 0.046). There was no effect on fertility (p > 0.05). The LA/ALA ratios of 1.48 and 13.75 fed to both hens and cockerels or hens resulted in greater fertility, as measured by the number of days after copulation during which fertile eggs were laid and the number of points of hydrolysis on the perivitelline membrane. A decreasing linear effect (p < 0.0001) was observed on chick length and an increasing linear effect on body weight at 1 day of age. There were no effects on progeny performance.4. The LA/ALA ratio affected yolk mineral matter (p = 0.009), crude protein (p = 0.091), chick mineral matter (p < 0.038) and ether extract (p < 0.0001) contents. Maternal diet affected the fatty acid profile of egg yolk and chick liver, indicating that dietary contents were transferred to eggs and chicks.5. Fertile egg production increased with lower LA/ALA ratios. Therefore, linseed oil can be used together with soybean oil to formulate diets for female Japanese quail obtain LA/ALA ratios between 4:1 and 10:1.

Effects of calcium ammonium nitrate fed to dairy cows on nutrient intake and digestibility, milk quality, microbial protein synthesis, and ruminal fermentation parameters.

We evaluated the effects of supplemental calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) fed to dairy cows on dry matter (DM) intake, nutrient digestibility, milk quality, microbial protein synthesis, and ruminal fermentation. Six multiparous Holstein cows at 106 ± 14.8 d in milk, with 551 ± 21.8 kg of body weight were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Experimental period lasted 21 d, with 14 d for an adaptation phase and 7 d for sampling and data collection. Cows were randomly assigned to receive the following treatments: URE, 12 g of urea/kg of DM as a control group; CAN15, 15 g of CAN/kg of DM; and CAN30, 30 g of CAN/kg of DM. Supplemental CAN reduced DM intake (URE 19.0 vs. CAN15 18.9 vs. CAN30 16.5 kg/d). No treatment effects were observed for apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, and neutral detergent fiber; however, CAN supplementation linearly increased nonfiber carbohydrate digestibility. Milk yield was not affected by treatments (average = 23.1 kg/d), whereas energy-corrected milk (ECM) and 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM) decreased as the levels of CAN increased. Nitrate residue in milk increased linearly (URE 0.30 vs. CAN15 0.33 vs. CAN30 0.38 mg/L); however, treatments did not affect nitrite concentration (average: 0.042 mg/L). Milk fat concentration was decreased (URE 3.39 vs. CAN15 3.35 vs. CAN30 2.94%), and the proportion of saturated fatty acids was suppressed by CAN supplementation. No treatment effects were observed on the reducing power and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances of milk, whereas conjugated dienes increased linearly (URE 47.6 vs. CAN15 52.7 vs. CAN30 63.4 mmol/g of fat) with CAN supplementation. Treatments had no effect on microbial protein synthesis; however, molar proportion of ruminal acetate and acetate-to-propionate ratio increased with CAN supplementation. Based on the results observed, supplementing CAN at 30 g/kg of DM should not be recommended as an optimal dose because it lowered DM intake along with ECM and 3.5% FCM, although no major changes were observed on milk quality and ruminal fermentation.

Citrus pulp as a dietary source of antioxidants for lactating holstein cows fed highly polyunsaturated Fatty Acid diets.

The effects of feeding pelleted citrus pulp (PCP) as a natural antioxidant source on the performance and milk quality of dairy cows fed highly polyunsaturated fatty acid (FA) diets were evaluated. Four lactating Holstein cows were assigned to a 4×4 Latin-square. Treatments, on a dry matter (DM) basis, were i) control diet; ii) 3% soybean oil; iii) 3% soybean oil and 9% PCP and; iv) 3% soybean oil and 18% PCP. When cows fed on citrus pulp, the DM intake tended to decrease. The total tract apparent digestibility of DM and ether extract decreased when cows fed on the control diet compared to other diets. Cows fed PCP had higher polyphenols and flavonoids content and higher total ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) in milk compared to those fed no pelleted citrus pulp. Cows fed 18% PCP showed higher monounsaturated FA and lower saturated FA in milk fat compared with cows fed the other diets. The lowest n-6 FA proportion was in milk fat from cows fed control. The present study suggests that pelleted citrus pulp added to 9% to 18% DM increases total polyphenols and flavonoids concentration, and the FRAP in milk.