title: Increasing omega fatty acid content in cow's milk through diet manipulation: effect on milk flavor.
abstract: Milk with an increased content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was obtained by incorporating fish oil into the feed of cows. The 4 feed treatments used were a control diet of 57% forage and 43% concentrate mix with EnerGII fat supplement at 1.65% of dietary DM, or EnerGII in the basal diet was partially replaced with 1) 0.21% partially ruminally inert calcium salts of 71% fish oil given at 0.41% of DM; 2) 0.41% inert calcium salts of 71% fish oil given at 0.83% of DM; or 3) 0.83% inert calcium salts of 43% fish oil given at 0.83% of DM. The cows were milked after 5 and 8 wk and the EPA, DHA, and CLA contents in the pasteurized whole milk were determined. The presence of off-flavors in the milk was investigated after 3 and 10 d of storage. Twelve judges were trained to evaluate the presence of grassy, fishy, oily, oxidized, and rancid off-flavors. Although levels of EPA, DHA, vaccenic acid, and CLA increased for all 4 treatments, a trained sensory panel detected no difference in milk flavor between treatments and the control, with little or no intensity of off-flavors. Results suggest that feeding fish oil and EnerGII at varying levels enhanced CLA, EPA, DHA, and total n-3 fatty acids in milk over the length of the experiment without negatively affecting milk flavor. This creates the potential for a more marketable and healthful product.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University, Logan 84322-4815, USA.
authors.forename: K A S
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013649:Taste
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005395:Fish Oils