title: Effects of supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid on reproduction of dairy cows.
abstract: The objectives were to determine the effects of supplementing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich algae on reproduction of dairy cows. Holstein cows were assigned randomly to either a control (n= 373) or the same diet supplemented daily with 100 g/cow of an algae product containing 10% DHA (algae,n= 366) from 27 to 147 days postpartum. Measurements included yields of milk and milk components, fatty acids (FA) profiles in milk fat and plasma phospholipids, resumption of ovulation by 57 days postpartum, pregnancy per artificial insemination (AI) and expression of interferon-stimulated genes in leukocytes. Feeding algae increased resumption of estrous cyclicity (77.6 vs 65.9%) and pregnancy at first AI (47.6 vs 32.8%) in primiparous cows. Algae increased pregnancy per AI in all AI in both primiparous and multiparous cows (41.6 vs 30.7%), which reduced days to pregnancy by 22 days (102 vs 124 days) compared with control cows. Pregnant cows fed algae had greater expression ofRTP4in blood leukocytes compared with those in pregnant control cows. Feeding algae increased the incorporation of DHA, eicosapentaenoic acid, conjugated linoleic acid isomerscis-9trans-11,trans-10cis-12 and total n-3 FA in phospholipids in plasma and milk fat. Yields of milk and true protein increased by 1.1 kg/day and 30 g/day respectively, whereas fat yield decreased 40 g/day in algae compared with that in control. Supplementing DHA-rich algae altered the FA composition of lipid fractions and improved reproduction in dairy cows. The benefits on reproduction might be mediated by enhanced embryo development based on changes in interferon-stimulated gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal SciencesUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.|DH Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research ProgramUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Letícia D P
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Sinedino
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal SciencesUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal SciencesUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Letícia R L
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal ScienceMichigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lock
authors.affiliation: Alltech Inc.Nicholasville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Maurice P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Boland
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal SciencesUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Charles R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Staples
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal SciencesUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.|DH Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research ProgramUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: William W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Thatcher
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal SciencesUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA jepsantos@ufl.edu.|DH Barron Reproductive and Perinatal Biology Research ProgramUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: José E P
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids