TITLE:
Evaluation of a Rumen Protected Omega 3 Supplement for Reproduction in Dairy Cows as Determined in Three Large Herd Field Trials
AUTHORS:
Malcolm Ballard, Anthony T. Byrd
KEYWORDS:
Encapsulation, Omega-3, Dairy Cow Reproduction
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.8 No.3,
July
27,
2018
ABSTRACT: Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to support
reproductive performance in dairy cows, but large amounts are needed due to
ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids. Three long-term large herd feeding
trials, two with heifers and one with mature cows, were conducted to evaluate
the effects of adding a rumen protected fish oil supplement on reproduction. In
all trials, there were over 1000 animals eligible to be bred/treatment. Cows
received a ration with 40 g of a rumen protected fish oil supplement (Salmate®the Ballard Group, Cincinnati Ohio) during the test
periods, while controls received no supplementation. The additive was provided
to the test cows from the onset of lactation until 90 ± 5 days in milk. Cows entering the pen on or after the first day of the
study were included in the dataset. Individual cow records were compiled by
Dairy Herd Improvement Association (National DHIA, Verona WI USA) were compared
to records from the same time period the year prior. Results were compared
using ANOVA for single mean variables and Fisher’s exact test for proportional
data. In trials 1 and 2 involving heifers, pregnancy rates were improved (22.4%
vs 14.8% in trial 1 and 22.0 vs 17.8% in trial 2, (p P P P > 0.05).
However, early embryonic abortion rates were 16.8 during the control period, as
compared to 4.7% during the test feeding period. The rumen protected omega 3
fatty acid supplement was found to be of benefit to reproductive performance in
dairy cows. The supplement may improve the percentage of cattle bred that
become pregnant in herds where this metric is low. Early term abortions may be
lowered, particularly in herds where this is high.