title: Effect of a long chain n-3 PUFA-enriched diet on production and reproduction variables in Holstein dairy cows.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a rumen-protected fish oil supplement on the production and reproduction variables in postpartum dairy cows. Holstein cows (n=46) were given a basal total mixed diet plus one PUFA supplement: n-3 (n-3; protected fish oil; 1% dry matter intake (DMI); n=23) or control (n-6; toasted soybeans; 1.8% DMI; n=23), in a switchback design over two consecutive lactations. Supplements were added to the diet between calving and 2 months after calving to assess the effect on growth and maturation of ovarian follicles from which ovulation occurred around the day of insemination. Body weight (BW), milk yield (MY) and composition, dry matter intake (DMI), energy balance (EB), subcutaneous fat thickness, plasma fatty acid composition, plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), glucose and urea concentrations, follicular activity, embryo mortalities and fertility (conception rate after first AI, AI1) were assessed. BW, MY, DMI, plasma NEFA, glucose and urea were unaffected by the diet. There was a trend of an increased number of large follicles (diameter≥10mm) with the n-3 dietary supplementation (P=0.06) and a decrease in infertility or early embryo mortality rate 21 days after AI, 13.5% in the n-3 compared with 38.8% in the n-6 group (P=0.09), with no effect on the conception rate at 35d or 90d after AI1. These data suggest that the effect seen on ovarian variables is not associated with an effect on production and metabolic variables and is specific to n-3 PUFA supplementation. Further studies are necessary to determine whether DHA or EPA enhances fertility in lactating dairy cattle.
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; IFCE, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France. Electronic address: sebastien.elis@tours.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Sebastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elis
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; IFCE, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Freret
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; IFCE, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desmarchais
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; IFCE, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maillard
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; IFCE, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cognié
authors.affiliation: INRA, UE 1297 Physiologie Animale de l'Orfrasière, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Briant
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; IFCE, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Touzé
authors.affiliation: INRA, UE 1297 Physiologie Animale de l'Orfrasière, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Mickael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR 1348 Physiologie Environnement et Génétique pour l'Animal et le Système d'Elevage, F-35590 Saint-Gilles, France; Agrocampus Ouest, UMR 1348 Physiologie Environnement et Génétique pour l'Animal et le Système d'Elevage, F-35000 Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faverdin
authors.affiliation: Institut Gustave Roussy, F-94805 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chajès
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; IFCE, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uzbekova
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; IFCE, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monget
authors.affiliation: INRA, UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; IFCE, UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dupont
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils
keywords: Dairy cows; Fertility; Nutrition; Production; n-3 PUFA