Four multiparous Holstein cows averaging 548 kg of body weight and 74 d in lactation were used in a Latin square design with four 21-d experimental periods to determine effects of feeding extruded versus non-extruded canola seed, with or without 50 g/kg lignosulfonate on rumen fermentation, nutrient flow to the omasum, and degradability of dry matter (DM) and N of each diet. The DM effective degradability increased with extrusion and lignosulfonate treatment had no effect. The effective degradability of N was similar between diets. Lignosulfonate treatment of extruded versus non-extruded canola seeds decreased ruminal and total tract apparent digestibility of organic matter. The lowest apparent ruminal and highest intestinal digestibilities of protein, expressed as a percentage of N intake were observed for cows fed extruded canola seeds without lignosulfonate. Lignosulfonate treatment and extrusion had no effect on pH and concentrations of ammonia N and volatile fatty acids in the rumen. Results suggest that extruded canola seed untreated with formaldehyde may stimulate efficiency of microbial protein synthesis and is an effective means of increasing the availability of protein in the small intestine without affecting the total tract apparent digestibility of protein.

Oito vacas da raça Holandesa com 570 ± 43 kg de peso vivo e 60 ± 20 dias de lactação foram distribuídas em delineamento quadrado latino duplo, com quatro períodos de 21 dias, para avaliar o fornecimento de linhaça inteira ou moída, com ou sem suplementação de monensina sódica (0,02% na MS), sobre o perfil de ácidos graxos da manteiga armazenada por 15 e 45 dias. O fornecimento de linhaça moída, em comparação ao de linhaça inteira, diminuiu as porcentagens relativas de 16:0, cis7-16:1, 17:0, e cis10-17:1, mas aumentou cis9,trans11-18:2, cis3-18:3, e ômega-3 na manteiga, reduzindo a porcentagem relativa de ácidos graxos de cadeia média e aumentando o conteúdo de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados. A suplementação com monensina aumentou as porcentagens relativas de cis9,trans11-18:2 e tendeu a aumentar a porcentagem relativa de 17:0 e diminuir ácidos graxos saturados na manteiga. A manteiga das vacas que receberam monensina na dieta apresentou menor porcentagem relativa de cis6-20:4. As porcentagens relativas de cis9-16:1, cis10-17:1, 18:0, trans11-42 18:1, cis9-18:1, cis3-18:3, cis6-20:4 na manteiga armazenada por 15 dias foram maiores que naquela armazenada por 45 dias e as porcentagens relativas de cis3-20:5 tenderam a diminuir com o aumento do período de armazenamento. Em consequência, as porcentagens relativas de ácidos graxos saturados e de cadeia média aumentaram com o tempo de armazenamento, enquanto ácidos graxos monoinsaturados e de cadeia longa diminuíram. A manteiga enriquecida com ácidos graxos poliinsaturados pode ter vida de prateleira mais curta, devido ao efeito negativo do armazenamento no perfil de ácidos graxos, que pode provocar oxidação e rancidez.

Eight Holstein cows with body weight 570 ± 43 kg and 60 ± 20 lactation days were distributed in a double Latin square design with four 21-day periods to determine the effects of feeding ground or whole flaxseed with or without monensin supplementation (0.02% on a dry matter basis) on fatty acid profile of butter stored for 15 and 45 days. Ground flaxseed supply, in comparison to whole flaxseed, reduced relative percentages of 16:0, cis7-16:1, 17:0, and cis10-17:1 but it increased those of cis9,trans11-18:2, cis3-18:3, and omega 3 fatty acids in butter fat, reducing relative percentage of medium-chain fatty acids and increasing the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Supplementation with monensin increased relative percentages of cis9,trans11-18:2 and tended to increase relative percentage of 17:0 and decrease that of saturated fatty acids in butter. Butter from cows fed diet with monensin presented lower relative percentages of cis 6-20:4. Relative percentages of cis 9-16:1, cis10-17:1, 18:0, trans11-18:1, cis9-18:1, cis3-18:3, cis6-20:4 in butter stored for 15 days were higher than those stored for 45 days and the relative percentages of cis3-20:5 tended to decrease with the increase of storage period. As a result, relative percentages of saturated fatty acids and medium-chain fatty acids increased with storage time, while those of monounsaturated and long-chain fatty acids decreased. Butter enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids may have a shorter shelf life due to the negative effect of storage on fatty acid profile which may cause oxidation and rancidity.

Avanços científicos em nutrição de vacas leiteiras têm ocorrido na primeira década do século XXI. Desta forma, este artigo abordará os principais aditivos utilizados na alimentação de vacas leiteiras no período de transição, empregados com o objetivo de diminuir a incidência de distúrbios metabólicos, na qual serão discutidos separadamente com ênfase em seus mecanismos de ação, utilização e eficácia. A partir da versão atualizada do NRC de 2001 serão abordadas algumas modificações na utilização de proteína com intuito de alcançar de forma precisa as exigências em nitrogênio e aminoácidos para vacas leiteiras. Além disso, observa-se que os principais avanços em manipular a gordura do leite estão relacionados com a suplementação lipídica na dieta, então, discutir-se-ão estudos sobre manipulação do perfil de ácidos graxos do leite na qual dependem da ação dos microrganismos ruminais sobre os ácidos graxos poli-insaturados da dieta, e também, os principais fatores relacionados à diminuição da gordura do leite.

Scientific advances in nutrition of dairy cows in the first decade of the XXI century have occurred. This paper will review the most common additives fed to transition cows to decrease the incidence of metabolic disorders, which will be discussed separately with emphasis on their mechanisms of action, utilization and efficiency. Some changes on protein in the 2001 updated version of the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle to reach better precision of the nitrogen and amino acid requirements of lactating cows also are presented. Many of the advances in nutritional manipulation of milk fat concentration are related to fat supplementation, then the relationship between the action of rumen microbes on biohydrogenation of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and milk fatty acid profile are discussed as well as the main factors identified as being responsible for milk fat depression.