Effects of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Reproductive Performance and Biochemical Parameters of Lactating Cows in Arid Subtropics
Effects of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Reproductive Performance and Biochemical Parameters of Lactating Cows in Arid Subtropics
Abd El-Nasser Ahmed Mohammed1*, Mohammed Al-Saiady2, Ahmed El-Waziry3 and Tarek Al-Shaheen1
ABSTRACT
Dietary omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat known to improve production and body health in mammalian species. The present on-farm experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids sources, extruded flaxseed and salmate, on reproductive performance and biochemical parameters in lactating dairy cattle. Two hundred and sixty-eight lactating cows were blocked by stage of lactation and assigned to three groups, a control group and two treated groups fed diets containing salmate (25 g/head/day) and extruded flaxseed (7.0%). The formulated control, salmate and extruded flaxseed diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous. The diets were given to animals from three weeks pre-partum to 160 days postpartum. Reproductive performance and biochemical parameters were investigated in both control and treated groups. The results indicated earlier restoration of normal oestrous postpartum in flaxseed group (17/90, 18.89%) followed by salmate (13/87, 14.94%) and control (3/91, 3.30%) groups. Upon estrous synchronization of remaining not estrous cows, the pregnancy rates were the highest in flaxseed (72/90, 80.0%) followed by salmate (67/87, 77.01%) and control (49/91, 53.85%) groups. The values of total protein, globulin, blood urea nitrogen, beta-hydroxybutyrate, cholesterol, thyroxine, IGF and insulin were higher in extruded flaxseed group compared to salamte and control ones versus NEFA, glucose, triglycerides and cortisol values. In conclusion, supplementation of flaxseed and salmate provided beneficial roles to lactating dairy cows in relation to reproductive performances and biochemical parameters in arid subtropical conditions.
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