The effect of fish oil or palm fat powder on metabolic status of Holstein dairy cows during transition period

Document Type : Research Paper

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Objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of consumption of two percent of dry matter fish oil as a source of n-3 fatty acids in comparison with two percent of palm oil on the metabolic status and yield of ten multiparous Holstein dairy cows from 45 days before up to 60 days after parturition. Feeding this amount of fish oil did not induce any significant effects on the dry matter intake, milk production and milk composition, but decreased milk fat yield and percent (P<0.05)and somatic cell score (P<0.01). Among blood metabolites, only cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase were significantly changed by fish oil consumption (P<0.05). Totally, with consuming fish oil, animal metabolic conditions improved to challenge negative energy balance and hypocalcemia around calving time. Results of this study indicate that consumption of two percent of fish oil in the dry period and early lactation could alleviate undesirable effects of negative energy balance, and improve common metabolic condition in early lactating dairy cows.

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