title: Effect of dietary extruded linseed, verbascoside and vitamin E supplements on yield and quality of milk in Lacaune ewes.
abstract: Milk yield and milk qualitative parameters were evaluated in Lacaune ewes on a diet supplemented with extruded linseed, verbascoside and vitamin E. A 98 d-trial was conducted on 44 ewes and started 40±2 d post partum. The animals were divided into four homogeneous groups of eleven animals each; one control group (CON) without extruded linseed and dietary supplements, and the diet of the other three experimental groups was enhanced with extruded linseed (L group), extruded linseed-verbascoside (LVB group), and extruded linseed-verbascoside-vitamin E (LVBE group). All animals individually received an isoenergetic diet, consisting of 700 g concentrated feed and meadow hay ad libitum. Body weight, body condition score, milk yield and milk qualitative parameters were assessed. LVB and LVBE groups resulted in a significant improvement (P<0·05) in milk yield due to the verbascoside supplementation. The extruded linseed supplementation L, LVB and LVBE groups produced a milk fat increase and a better milk fatty acid profile in terms of a higher monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content and a reduced saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, a lower n-6/n-3 ratio and atherogenic and thrombogenic index. The dietary verbascoside supplementation in the LVB and LVBE group resulted in a better milk quality due to the low cholesterol level and higher vitamin A and E contents, in addition to an increased oxidative stability highlighted by the lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) level. Thus, the addition of extruded linseed and verbascoside supplements improved milk yield and quality both from a chemical and nutritive point of view.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences,University of Molise,Via De Sanctis, snc - 86100 Campobasso,Italy.
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Casamassima
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences,University of Molise,Via De Sanctis, snc - 86100 Campobasso,Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nardoia
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences,University of Molise,Via De Sanctis, snc - 86100 Campobasso,Italy.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety,University of Milan,Via Celoria, 10 - 20133 Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vizzarri
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production,University of Bari,Via Amendola 165a - 70126 Bari,Italy.
authors.forename: Angela Gabriella
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety,University of Milan,Via Celoria, 10 - 20133 Milan,Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corino
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D019597:Flax / Q000737:chemistry*; D005960:Glucosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols
chemical_list: D005960:Glucosides; D010636:Phenols; D014810:Vitamin E; C058956:acteoside; D059808:Polyphenols