title: Effects of supplementation with high linoleic or oleic cracked safflower seeds on postpartum reproduction and calf performance of primiparous beef heifers.
abstract: Primiparous Angus x Gelbvieh (n = 36) rotationally crossed beef cows (initial BW = 487.9 +/- 10.5 kg, body condition score = 5.5 +/- 0.02) were utilized to determine effects of supplemental safflower seeds high in linoleic (76% 18:2) or oleic (72% 18:1) acid on cow BW change, body condition score, milk production and composition, calf weight gain, cow serum metabolites, and metabolic hormones. On d 3 postpartum, cows were randomly assigned to one of three isonitrogenous dietary supplements with equal total quantity of TDN: corn-soybean control supplement (n = 12); high-linoleate safflower seeds (n = 12); or high-oleate safflower seeds (n = 12). Safflower-seed supplements were formulated to provide 5% DMI as fat. Supplements were individually fed from d 3 postpartum through 90 d postpartum. Cows had ad libitum access to native grass hay (7.8% CP), trace-mineralized salt, and water. Date of parturition was evenly distributed across treatments with all cows calving within 14 +/- 0.8 d. There were no differences (P = 0.65) in total OM intake among treatments. Although cow BW change did not differ (P = 0.33) by treatment, supplementation influenced cow body condition score (P = 0.02) with linoleate-supple-mented cows in higher (P = 0.005) condition overall than oleate-supplemented cows (5.1 +/- 0.06 vs 4.9 +/- 0.06). Twenty-four-hour milk production did not differ (P = 0.68) among treatments. Percentage milk fat was not different at d 30; however, at d 60 and d 90 percentage milk fat was greater (P ( 0.05) in control and oleate-supplemented cows than in linoleate-supplemented cows. Calf BW gains (P = 0.27) and adjusted 205-d weights (P = 0.48) were not affected by supplement treatment. Supplementation did not influence serum concentrations of glucose (P = 0.38), NEFA (P = 0.61), GH (P = 0.29), IGF-I (P = 0.81), insulin (P = 0.26), or IGF-I binding proteins (P > or = 0.11). Days to conception did not differ (P = 0.40) among treatments. Although overall productivity of the primiparous cows and their calves was not altered by safflower-seed supplementation, differential effects were noted between supplements. Oleate supplementation increased percentage milk fat at d 60, and cow body condition score was lower than in linoleate-supplemented cows. Linoleate-supplemented cows had greater body condition scores by 90 d postpartum than either corn-soybean- or oleatesupplemented cows.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie 82071, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bottger
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hixon
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Woodardt
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Funston
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Hallford
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005223:Fats / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019787:Linoleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010298:Parity; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011897:Random Allocation; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012450:Safflower Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012639:Seeds; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D005223:Fats; D019301:Oleic Acid; D012450:Safflower Oil; D019787:Linoleic Acid