Effects of Extruded Linseed and Soybean Dietary Supplementation on Lactation Performance, First-Service Conception Rate, and Mastitis Incidence in Holstein Dairy Cows

• Main Authors: Ahmed Dawod, Hamada Ahmed, Reham Abou-Elkhair, Hamed T. Elbaz, Ayman E. Taha, Ayman A. Swelum, Ibrahim A. Alhidary, Islam M. Saadeldin, Muath Q. Al-Ghadi, Hani A. Ba-Awadh, Elsayed O. S. Hussein, Adham A. Al-Sagheer
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Animals
• Subjects: dairy cows; extruded linseed and soybean; milk yield; milk fatty acids; first-service conception rate
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/3/436

This study quantifies the effects of extruded linseed and soybean (ELS) dietary supplementation on milk yield, composition, and fatty acid profiles, as well as first-service conception rate in Holstein dairy cows. Seventy-eight open Holstein dairy cows were divided into two groups: (1) a control, which received a basal diet; and (2) a test group, which received a basal diet supplemented with the ELS (650 g/kg of extruded linseed and 150 g/kg of extruded soybean) at a rate of 100 g/kg. In the ELS group, milk yield per day and solid not fat (SNF) yield increased by 3.26% and 0.88%, respectively, in relation to the control. Percentage milk fat decreased significantly by 1.4% in the ELS group when compared with the control. The ELS supplement resulted in a decrease in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) and an increase in monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in milk. In conclusion, the supplementation of dairy cow feed with 100 g/kg of ELS increases milk yield and milk unsaturated fatty acids (especially MUFAs and PUFAs). ELS supplementation also causes a decrease in percentage fat and SFA levels but does not affect the first-service conception rate or the incidence rate of mastitis.