Effect of Fish Oil and Linseed Oil on Intake, Milk Yield and Milk Fatty Acid Profile in Goats.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of incorporating linseed oil and fish oil in the diet on intake, ruminal fermentation, milk yield, and milk fatty acid profiles in dairy goats. Four crossbred Saanen lactating goats in mid-lactation and milking 1.30 ± 0.28 g/day were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The basal diet contained concentrate and Para grass (C:F 40:60). Treatments included a basal diet without oil supplementation (Ctrl) or with 2.5% linseed oil (LO 2.5 ), 2.5% linseed oil and fish oil (3:2, w / w , LFO 2.5 ), and 4.16% linseed oil and fish oil (3:2, w / w , LFO 4.16 ). Diets had no effect on intake, milk yield, milk composition, or ruminal fermentation ( p > 0.05). Compared with Ctrl, lower ( p < 0.05) proportions of C10:0-C14:0 in milk fat were observed with LFO 4.16 . Compared with the Ctrl and linseed oil added alone, feeding LFO 4.16 led to a greater ( p < 0.01) concentration of C18:1 t 11. Compared with both the Ctrl and LO 2.5 diets, milk c 9, t 11 CLA was 4.53 and 2.94 times greater with the LFO 4.16 diet. Compared with Ctrl and LO 2.5 diets (0.06% and 0.08%), goats fed LFO 2.5, and LFO 4.16 had greater ( p < 0.001) concentrations of C22:6 n -3 (0.63% and 0.87%). Overall, the combined data suggested that including 4.16% linseed oil and fish oil in the diet of dairy goats was effective in improving the concentrations of health-promoting fatty acids in milk without affecting milk production.