Milk from cows grazing on cool-season pastures provides an enhanced profile of bioactive fatty acids compared to those grazed on a monoculture of pearl millet.
The demand for dairy products from grass-fed cows is driven, in part, by their more desirable fatty acid (FA) profile, containing more n-3 FA and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) than conventionally produced dairy products. This study investigated the effects of pearl millet (PM) vs. cool-season pasture (CSP) on animal performance and milk FA in a grazing system. Eight Holstein dairy cows were used in a repeated measures design with four-week periods. Forage type had no effect on animal performance (estimated dry matter intake, milk production, fat, or protein). The contents of CLA and n-3 FA in a serving of whole milk (3.25% fat) increased when cows grazed CSP compared to PM. A serving of whole milk from cows grazing PM had a higher content of saturated FA and branched-chain FA. In conclusion, the contents of various bioactive FA were higher in milk fat of cows grazing a CSP compared to PM.
The University of Vermont, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 570 Main St., Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Electronic address: Melissa.Bainbridge@uvm.edu.
Melissa L
ML
Bainbridge
The University of Vermont, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 570 Main St., Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Electronic address: eegolf@vet.upenn.edu.
Emily
E
Egolf
The University of Vermont, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 570 Main St., Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Electronic address: John.Barlow@uvm.edu.
John W
JW
Barlow
The University of Vermont, Center for Sustainable Agriculture, 23 Mansfield Ave., Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Electronic address: Juan.Alvez@uvm.edu.
Juan P
JP
Alvez
The University of Vermont, Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, 617 Main St., Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Electronic address: jroman@uvm.edu.
Joe
J
Roman
The University of Vermont, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 570 Main St., Burlington, VT 05405, USA. Electronic address: Jana.Kraft@uvm.edu.
Jana
J
Kraft
D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D044243:Linoleic Acids, Conjugated / Q000378:metabolism; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D031782:Pennisetum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons
D005227:Fatty Acids; D044243:Linoleic Acids, Conjugated
Conjugated linoleic acids; Organic; Summer annuals; Warm-season grasses; n-3 fatty acids