Effect of alternating total mixed ration and pasture feeding on the fatty acid content and health indices of Jersey and Fleckvieh x Jersey milk

Abstract

Certain fatty acids (FAs), such as omega-3 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) are considered essential FAs with beneficial health effects for humans. Milk is considered a relatively inexpensive and readily available source of these FAs and is part of a recommended healthy daily diet. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of diet changes on the FA composition of Jersey (J) and Fleckvieh x Jersey (FxJ) milk. Cows were alternately put on kikuyu-ryegrass pasture, followed by a feedlot system, then returned to kikuyu-ryegrass pasture for four weeks each. The same concentrate mixture was fed to cows regardless of feeding system. The feedlot system consisted of a partial total mixed ration (pTMR). Milk samples were collected two and four weeks after diet changes and stored at −20 °C until laboratory analysis by gas chromatography. The FA concentration of milk was not affected by breed, although it was affected significantly by diet changes. Most notably, the total omega-3 and -6 FAs decreased when cows were fed pTMR while increasing when the diet was changed back to pasture feeding. The CLA content of milk was similarly affected. That is, concentrations decreased significantly when the cows were on the pTMR diet and increased when cows were put back on the pasture-based diet. The results suggested that the health benefits of milk fat are affected negatively when cows are fed pTMR compared with being fed in a pasturebased system. The health benefits of milk are reduced owing to decreased levels of the CLA content of milk fat. Therefore, feeding additional hay in a pasture-based production system should be reconsidered when aiming to produce milk that provides health beneficial qualities.