HI-FLAX IMPROVES FEED EFFICIENCY IN DAIRY COWS

Hi-Flax is a bypass source of omega-3 fatty acids (FA), specifically alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). The aim of the last study presented with this product (ADSA, 2019) was to evaluate the effects of supplementing extruded linseed or linseed oil coated with hydrogenated palm fatty acid distillates (HPFAD) on DMI and milk yield of early-lactation dairy cows. Sixty-three Holstein cows (591±84 kg BW, 42±24.8 DIM, 37.2±10.6 kg of milk/d) were randomly distributed in 3 groups (n=21) and exposed for 84 days to 3 treatments following a complete randomized design.  Treatments consisted of supplementation with 500 g/d of HPFAD (CTR), 350 g/d of extruded linseed and 390 g/d of HPFAD (EXT), or 500 g/d of HPFAD coated linseed oil (HFL). Both, HFL and EXT diets provided the same amount of linolenic acid. Cows were fed a TMR (15.5% CP, 33.7% NDF, 1.65Mcal of NEl/kg; DM basis) twice daily. On a daily basis, BW, DMI, milk yield, and milk fat and protein contents were determined individually. Animal was the experimental unit and data were analyzed using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures.

The results were that the feed intake was lower (P<0.01) in HFL (22.8±0.54 kg/d)  than in CTR (24.9±0.54 kg/d) or EXT (25.7±0.54 kg/d) cows, and it was affected by an interaction (P<0.01) between treatment and time due to a lower increase in DMI in HFL as the study progressed. Milk yield and milk protein content did not differ among treatments.  Milk fat content (P=0.02) was lower in EXT (3.33±0.06%) compared with CTR (3.55±0.06%) cows. The HFL cows (3.36±0.06%) did not differ with either treatment. Feed efficiency (ECM/DMI) was greatest (P<0.01) in HFL (1.83±0.04), with no differences between CTR (1.63±0.04) and EXT (1.66±0.04) cows. Although HFL cows had a lower DMI, yield performance and BW were not affected along the study.

With this study we concluded that Hi-Flax has the potential to improve FE through a decrease in DMI while sustaining milking performance