Prepartum supplementation of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) increased milk energy output and decreased serum fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate in early lactation dairy cows

Abstract

Prepartum supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may influence lipolysis and hyperketonemia in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of prepartum CLA supplementation on lactation performance and serum fatty acids (FA) and β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in early lactation dairy cows, and secondarily on reproductive performance. Multiparous cows were enrolled in the study at 18 days prior to expected calving date, and randomly assigned 100 g/day of Lutrell Pure (BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany; 75% FA), providing 10 g/day of each CLA isomer (trans-10 cis-12 and cis-9 trans-11 CLA) or equivalent amount of rumen inert fatty acids as control (78 g/day of Energy Booster 100; Milk Specialties Global, Eden Prairie, MN). Treatments were top dressed daily to individual cows from enrollment to calving and all cows were offered the same ration. Blood samples were collected on the first day of supplementation, 10 days prepartum, and 1, 7, 14, and 30 days postpartum. Hyperketonemia was defined as serum BHB ≥ 1.2 mM. Milk yield was recorded daily until 60 days postpartum and averaged weekly. Milk samples were obtained weekly for component analysis. Prepartum CLA supplementation tended to increase serum concentration of cis-9, trans-11 CLA and increased trans-10, cis-12 CLA prepartum. Cows supplemented with CLA had increased milk protein yield and tended to have increased milk fat yield and milk yield, which together resulted in greater energy content of milk. Cows supplemented with CLA had lower serum FA on day 1 and 7 postpartum and overall lower serum BHB postpartum, which resulted in decreased prevalence of hyperketonemia on day 14 postpartum. There were no differences in body condition score change, other health disorders, or reproductive outcomes by treatment. Together, these findings indicate that prepartum CLA supplementation may be a plausible strategy to positively influence postpartum performance.

Fig 1. Effect of prepartum control or conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) supplementation on serum fatty acids (FA) at first day of supplementation and 10 days prepartum, and at 1, 7, 14, and 30 days postpartum in dairy cows.

Treatments: Control (open bar, n = 34) cows supplemented with 78 g of Energy Booster 100 (Milk Specialties Global, Eden Prairie, MN) and CLA (closed bar, n = 30) cows supplemented with 100 g/day of Lutrell Pure (BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany). Supplementation was by individual topdress of product mixed with 200 g corn gluten feed for 16 days prepartum. * P ≤ 0.05 for treatment differences within individual timepoint. Overall treatment effect P = 0.06. Interaction treatment x time P = 0.02.

Fig 2. Effect of prepartum control or conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) supplementation on serum β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) at 1, 7, 14, and 30 days postpartum in dairy cows.

Treatments: Control (open bar, n = 34) cows supplemented with 78 g of Energy Booster 100 (Milk Specialties Global, Eden Prairie, MN) and CLA (closed bar, n = 30) cows supplemented with 100 g/day of Lutrell Pure (BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany). Supplementation was by individual topdress of product mixed with 200 g corn gluten feed for 16 days prepartum. Overall treatment effect P = 0.03. Interaction treatment x time P = 0.22.

Fig 3. Effect of prepartum control or conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) supplementation on calving to conception interval in dairy cows.

Treatments: Control (gray line, n = 128) cows supplemented with 78 g of Energy Booster 100 (Milk Specialties Global, Eden Prairie, MN) and CLA (black line, n = 138) cows supplemented with 100 g/day of Lutrell Pure (BASF, Ludwigshafen, Germany). Supplementation was by individual topdress of product mixed with 200 g corn gluten feed for 16 days prepartum. Hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) and Hazard ratio P-value were 0.99 (0.75 to 1.31) and P = 0.95. Mean ± standard error were 107.7 ± 3.00 for control and 107.4 ± 2.99 for CLA treatments. Median (95% confidence interval) were 106.5 days (75 to 110 days) for control and 105.5 days (75 to 110 days) for CLA treatments. LogRank P = 0.97, and Wilcoxon P = 0.96.