Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effect of feeding type (pasture vs. total mixed rations) of Turcana ewes on animal performance and milk fatty acid profile

Author(s):

Daniel Mierlita

Recieved Date: 2012-06-12, Accepted Date: 2012-10-06

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding type (pasture vs. total mixed rations) of Turcana ewes on animal performance and profile of fatty acids (FA) of milk fat. The diets were pasture without supplementation (P) and total mixed ration (TMR 1.5 kg grass hay and 700 g mixed concentrates). Milk produced by ewes in TMR group had a higher proportion of fat in milk and a higher energy corrected milk (ECM) (p <0.001). No differences were noticed between the dietary groups in respect of milk protein and lactose content. FA profile of milk fat produced by ewes in group P was more favourable for humans, due to higher concentrations of α-linolenic acid (ALA), c9,t11-CLA (RA; rumenic acid) and t11,C18:1 (VA; vaccenic acid which is a precursor to CLA in humans) (p <0.001) and lower content of saturated fatty acids with high hypercholesterolemia potential. Decreased content in saturated FA (especially hypercholesterolemic FA: C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0) led to lower atherogenic index of milk fat of ewes maintained on pasture, compared with ewes in whose diet concentrates and hay were introduced. TMR diet caused a significant increase in milk yield and fat content but also an increase in saturated fatty acids (SFA: C6:0, C8:0, C10:0, C14:0, C16:0) and a decrease of monounsaturated FA (C16:1, t11-C18: 1 and c9-C18:1) and polyunsaturated FA (c9,t11-C18:2, C18:3 n-3). When the quality and availability of pasture does not limit milk yield, using TMR diets in Turcana ewes was not recommended because adverse effects on the FA profile in milk, even if it has a positive effect on milk yield and fat content. 

Keywords:

Ewe’s milk, α-linolenic acid and rumenic acid, atherogenic index, Turcana breed

---

Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 815-818

---

Full text for Subscribers

---

Information:

Note to users

The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.

Article purchasing

If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.

---

Purchase this Article:   20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15

---

Share this article :