N-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids as a Nutritional Support of the Reproductive and Immune System of Cattle-A Review

Abstract

This paper focuses on the role of n-3 fatty acids as a nutrient crucial to the proper functioning of reproductive and immune systems in cattle. Emphasis was placed on the connection between maternal and offspring immunity. The summarized results confirm the importance and beneficial effect of n-3 family fatty acids on ruminant organisms. Meanwhile, dietary n-3 fatty acids supplementation, especially during the critical first week for dairy cows experiencing their peripartum period, in general, is expected to enhance reproductive performance, and the impact of its supplementation appears to be dependent on body condition scores of cows during the drying period, the severity of the negative energy balance, and the amount of fat in the basic feed ration. An unbalanced, insufficient, or excessive fatty acid supplementation of cows' diets in the early stages of pregnancy (during fetus development) may affect both the metabolic and nutritional programming of the offspring. The presence of the polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 family in the calves' ration affects not only the performance of calves but also the immune response, antioxidant status, and overall metabolism of the future adult cow.

Keywords: cattle; fatty acids; immunity; nutrition; omega 3; reproduction.

Figure 1

Classification of fatty acids.

Figure 2

The process of lipolysis involved in fat mobilization.

Figure 3

Lipid transformations in the rumen of dairy cows (based on Bauman et al. [50]). Abbreviations: TG—triglycerides; GL—glycolipids; FA—fatty acids; VFA—volatile fatty acids; PL—phospholipids; SFA—saturated fatty acid; MC—Microbial cells.

Figure 4

Metabolism of prostaglandins series 1, 2, and 3 (based on Park et al. [95]). Explanations: C18:2 n-6—linoleic acid; C18:3 n-6—γ-linolenic acid; C20:3 n-6—dihomo- γ linolenic acid; C20:4 n-6—arachidonic acid; C18:3 n-3—α-linolenic acid; C18:4 n-3—stearidonic acid; C20:4 n-3—eicosatetraenoic acid; C20:5 n-3—eicosapentaenoic acid; PG1, PG2, PG3—prostaglandin 1 or 2 or 3.