The Skinny on Fats and Fatty
Acids in Dairy Rations
T. C. Jenkins
Clemson University
Adam Lock
Michigan State University
Dr.
Heinrichs
“ Tom
Adam”
1
1
Feed Analysis
Modeling Programs
Fatty Acid Abbreviations

# carbons: # double bonds
 no.
of carbons C12 to C20
 no. of double bonds

C18:0, C18:1, C18:2, C18:3
 position

of double bonds
omega position
2
2
Number of Double Bonds
HOOC
CH3
Saturated FA
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
HOOC
Monunsaturated FA CH3
HOOC
CH3
Polyunsaturated FA
C16:0
C18:0
C18:1
C18:1trans-11
C18:2c9c12
C18:2t10c12
C18:3
C20:5
C22:6
Which of the above are classified
as saturated fatty acids?
Which of the above are classified
as PUFA?
3
3
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
C16:0
C18:0
C18:1
C18:1trans-11
C18:2c9c12
C18:2t10c12
C18:3
C20:5
C22:6
What is the primary fatty acid
cows consume each day?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
C16:0
C18:0
C18:1
C18:1trans-11
C18:2c9c12
C18:2t10c12
C18:3
C20:5
C22:6
What is the primary fatty acid
reaching the small intestine?
4
4
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
C16:0
C18:0
C18:1
C18:1trans-11
C18:2c9c12
C18:2t10c12
C18:3
C20:5
C22:6
Which is the primary fatty acid in
pasture and hay?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
Fatty
Acid
Sat
Alfalfa
Rye
Grass
Timothy
24.3
15.8
20.9
18:1
2.4
2.1
5.0
18:2
19.4
13.5
19.2
18:3
50.6
67.2
51.6
C16:0
C18:0
C18:1
C18:1trans-11
C18:2c9c12
C18:2t10c12
C18:3
C20:5
C22:6
Which are the omega-3 fatty
acids?
O
HO 1
9
1
18
9
Methyl
OMEGA ()
Acid
ALPHA (α) END
O
HO 1
Oleic acid (‐9)
6
9
9
12
1
Linoleic acid (‐6)
18
5
5
DHA C22:6
EPA C20:5
O
HO 1
6
9
9
12
3
15
1
‐Linolenic acid (‐3)
18
Where are the Omega’s?
Omega 6(Ω6)
18:2
Omega 3(Ω3)
18:3, 20:5, 22:6
EPA
Alfalfa hay and silage
Corn grain
Corn silage
Distillers grains
Soybean meal
Whole cottonseed
Whole soybeans
DHA
Fresh grass
Fresh alfalfa
Flaxseed
Fish meal (oil)
Fish oil
Algae
6
6
Linoleic Acid (EFA) in Dairy cows
Essential Fatty Acids and
Reproduction
Increase CL diameter
 Increase synthesis of series 3 prostaglandins

 Increased pregnancy rates
 Increased first, second service conception
 Increased early embryo survival
 15
more pregnant cows for every 100 confirmed
pregnant
7
7
Varying Ratio of w6/w3 Fatty Acids
45 cows d 15 to 105
 Cows randomly assigned to three identical diets
(3.3% total fatty acids).
 1.43% added fat as blends of Ca Salts palm oil,
safflower oil, and fish oil.




369 g C18:2 and 10 g EPA/DHA (total w6/w3 6:1)
330 g C18:2 and 15 g EPA/DHA (total w6/w3 5:1)
298 g C18:2 and 20 g EPA/DHA (total w6/w3 4:1)
Greco et al.2013 ADSA Abstract #648
Varying Ratio of w6/w3 Fatty Acids
6/1
5/1
4/1
SEM
DMI,
kg/da
24.7
24.6
26.1
0.5
Milk,
kg/da
43.2
44.8
46.8
0.7
Milk fat, %
3.54
3.58
3.64
0.05
3.5% FCM, kg/da
43.4
45.4
48.0
0.8
aLinear
effect of diet (P< 0.05).
Greco et al.2013 ADSA Abstract #648
8
8
Too Much Fat
5% Soybean Oil
Negative Effects
 Reduced DMI
 Negative effects on ruminal
fermentation and digestion
 Reduced milk yield
 Milk
fat
depression
CLA Shift
t10c12 CLA
CON
SBO
Milk, kg/d
21.5
19.8
Milk Fat, kg/d
1.12
0.85*
Milk fat, %a
3.53
2.73*
*CON
and FAT diets differed (P < 0.05).
From Huang et al., 2008. J. Dairy Sci. 91:260–270.
MFD
trans-10 18:1
Stearic
18:0
Linoleic (18:2)
c9t11 CLA
trans-11 18:1
9
9
Important Points About CLA
CLA ‐ bioactive lipids made by microorganisms in the rumen from unsaturated fatty acids in the feed. CLAMFI – the three CLA produced in the rumen that are milk fat inhibitors and cause MFD.
Nutritional factors that affect the
risk of MFD
10
10
Temptations to push the limit on
feeding fat
When prices are favorable for high-fat
byproducts
 When grain prices reach record levels making
commercial fats more competitive
 When the farm has access to (perceptually
inexpensive) high-fat waste products from a
nearby food processing plant.
 We don’t account for all sources of fat

Rumen Unsaturated Fatty Acid Load
RUFAL
(C18:1 + C18:2 + C18:3)
A Way to Account for All High Risk
Fatty Acids
11
11
Fatty Acid Sources
Ingredient
DMI, lb/d
Corn Silage, Med Chppd
21.95
AlfHay2
20Cp40Ndf17LNDF
5.78
CrnGrn56DryFine
9.34
Citrus Pulp Grnd
1.03
Cottonsd WLint
2.30
Megalac
0.29
Soybean ML 47.5 Solv
6.95
Other (mineral, vitamin,
trace supplements)
1.32
Total
48.96
RUFAL, g/d
573
Fatty Acid Sources
DMI, lb/d
RUFAL, g/d
Corn Silage, Med Chppd
21.95
152
AlfHay2
20Cp40Ndf17LNDF
5.78
26
CrnGrn56DryFine
9.34
139
Citrus Pulp Grnd
1.03
6
Cottonsd WLint
2.30
142
Megalac
0.29
48
Soybean ML 47.5 Solv
6.95
60
Other (mineral, vitamin,
trace supplements)
1.32
0
Total
48.96
573
Ingredient
12
12
Netherland Silage

Previous research has reported significant
variation in FA concentration of forages
FA, % DM
Grass Silage
Corn Silage
Mean
1.9
2.0
Minimum
0.8
1.2
Maximum
3.3
3.5
Khan et al., 2012 Anim Feed Sci Tech. 174: 36-45
USA Corn Silage-75 corn silage samples
from 2011 harvest
trans-10 18:1
FFA,
%TFA
20
13
31
CON vs FAT:P < 0.01
FFA vs TAG: P < 0.01
350
300
mg/d
Mean
Min
Max
TFA,
%DM
2.5
1.6
3.6
250
200
150
100
50
0
CON
FFA
TAG
Klein, Ploetz, Jenkins, & Lock.2013 ADSA Abstract #73
13
13
NDS Feed Library – corn silage
TFA c.s.
% DM
TFA intake TFA
g/d
% DM
Milk
lb/d
1.6
980
3.94
86.1
2.5
1058
4.26
87.6
3.6
1162
4.67
88.9
14
14
Fatty Acids in Rye and Annual
Ryegrass Pasture
Pasture
Planted
Grazed
Initial FA, %
DM
Final FA, % DM
Rye
October
Nov 18- Mar 17
6.8
4.7
Annual ryegrass
October
Mar 17 – June 3
4.5
1.8
Freeman-Pounders et al. 2009. Forage and Grazinglands. doi:
10.1094/FG-2009-0130-01-BR.
Total Fatty Acids in Forages at
Vegetative Stage
7
6
5
4
%
3
2
1
0
Red clover
Alfalfa
Crimson clover
Wheat
Ryegrass
Andrae and Jenkins, unpublished
15
15
Feed Fat Analysis

Total Lipid (ether extract)
 Includes
fatty acids
 Non-lipid contaminants

Acid-Ether Extract
 Extruded
and high Ca fats
 Includes fatty acids and non-lipids

Fatty acids
 Best
predictor of animal performance
High TMR FA profile
RUFAL = ??
16
16

RUFAL < 3.5%
 Total FA intake on lower side
 IF have MFD look for other causes
first
 Might have room for more fat if
production numbers are good.
RUFAL > 3.5%
 Total FA intake on higher side
 See where fat is coming from
 Consider backing off a bit if MFD
problems
trans-10, cis-12 18:2 vs. total FA intake
30
25
y = 0.02x2 - 1.43x + 26.9
R² = 0.71
20
mg/d

15
10
5
0
15
25
35
45
RUFAL, mg/g DM
55
65
Sun, Jenkins, & Lock.2013 ADSA Abstract #656
RUFAL = 3.93%
17
17
See where fat is coming from!
Fat source effect (P < 0.05).
Quadratic effect of fat level (P < 0.05).
Fat source x fat level interaction (P < 0.05).
20
t10c12 CLA, mg/d
18
4.0
16
14
12
Canola Oil
Corn Oil
10
8
3.4
6
3.9
4
2
2.1
2.1
2.6
2.7
3.5
0
0
1
2
Added Fat, %
3
Sun, Jenkins, & Lock.2013 ADSA Abstract #656
See where fat is coming from!
3.8
1.61
C18:1
Milk fat %
3.4
C18:2
2.86
4.03
3
5.20
2.6
5.31
4.09
2.2
2
3
4
5
6
7
Dietary FA %DM
From He et al. (2012) J. Dairy Sci. 95:1447-1461.
18
18
Why Do I Still Sometimes Have
MFD Problems Even When I
Follow All The Proper
Guidelines?
Modifiers of CLA and Milk Fat
Palmitic acid
 K Carbonate

19
19
Crossover design with 25-d periods
 14 d pre-trial period for baseline production
 Treatments

 0%
added fat (CON) vs 2% added C16:0 (FAT) from
d 1 to d 25
 d 22 to 25
Continued on dry corn
 DC replaced with high-moisture corn

Key Results
CON
DMI,
kg/dab
Milk, kg/d
FAT
DC
HMC
DC
HMC
24.7
23.8
23.3
23.8
32.0
32.0
32.0
32.2
3.88
3.89
4.16
4.19
%a
3.33
3.33
3.28
3.30
FCM/DMIab
1.38
1.53
1.51
1.50
Fat,
%a
Protein,
aFat
bFat
effect (P < 0.05)
x CHO (P < 0.05)
DC = 13.8% dry corn HMC = 13.8% high-moisture corn
From J. Dairy Sci. 2013. 96:2013.
20
20
Palmitic acid increased the yield of milk fat and improved feed
efficiency across production levels of cows compared with stearic acid.
Rico, Allen, and Lock
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
Abstract #420
2012 FASS Meetings, Phoenix
2% PA1
2% SA2
Milk fat, %
3.66
3.55
P<0.01
Fat yield, kg/d
1.68
1.59
P<0.01
199%
298%
Palmitic Acid
Stearic Acid
Experimental Design
Common diet n = 16
Low fat
NS at start
n=8
D-2.25%
D-0%
D-0.75%
High fat
n=8
D-0%
D-2.25%
D-0.75%
D-1.5%
D-1.5%
14 d/ period
Rico, Allen, & Lock.2013 ADSA Abstract #651
21
21
Effect of PA Dose on Milk Fat
Milk Fat Yield
1.80
4.05
Milk fat yield, kg/d
Milk fat concentration , %
Milk Fat
Concentration
4.00
3.95
3.90
P < 0.001 L
3.85
3.80
1.75
1.70
P = 0.014 Q
1.65
1.60
3.75
0.00
0.75
1.50
PA dose, % of ration DM
Dose < 0.01, Basal = 0.78
Basal x Dose = 0.84
SEM = 0.12
2.25
0.00
0.75
1.50
2.25
PA dose, % of ration DM
Dose < 0.01, Basal = 0.24
Basal x Dose = 0.147
SEM = 1.34
Rico, Allen, & Lock.2013 ADSA Abstract #651
University of Delaware Research Trial

30 multiparous Holstein cows assigned to one of
two treatments:
80® (1.26% of DM)
 Palmit 80 replaced by MEGALAC (1.46% of DM) to
reach EQUAL amount of FA
 Palmit
Two week pretrial period to establish baseline
milk for both groups
 12 week lactation trial

Block, Kung, & Merrill.2013 ADSA Abstract #W29
22
22
Univ. of Delaware Results
Block, Kung, & Merrill.2013 ADSA Abstract #W29
Univ. of Delaware Results
Block, Kung, & Merrill.2013 ADSA
Abstract #W29
23
23
Potassium carbonate addition to continuous cultures of mixed ruminal bacteria
shifts volatile fatty acids and daily production of biohydrogenation intermediates
T. C. Jenkins,* W. C. Bridges, Jr,† J. H. Harrison,‡ and K. M. Young*
J. Dairy Science. 2014. Accepted
Potassium carbonate addition to continuous cultures of mixed ruminal bacteria
shifts volatile fatty acids and daily production of biohydrogenation intermediates
T. C. Jenkins,* W. C. Bridges, Jr,† J. H. Harrison,‡ and K. M. Young*
J. Dairy Science. 2014. Accepted
24
24
Does K Improve Milk Fat % by
Returning CLA to Normal?
CLAMFI → CLAnormal
trans-10 cis-12 → cis-9 trans-11
Treatments – Experiment 1
10% K2CO3,
mL/d
Added K, g/d
K0
K1
K2
K3
NaOH
0.0
10.6
21.2
31.8
*
0.0
0.6
1.2
1.8
*
*Injected sufficient NaOH to maintain same pH as K3.
J. Dairy Science. 2014. Accepted
25
25
trans10, cis12
CLA.
Experiment
11
Trans-10,
Cis-12
CLA.
Experiment
t10c12
13.2
11.6
11.3
7.9
K0
K1
K2
7.6
K3
NAOH
J. Dairy Science. 2014. Accepted
Trans
-10 Fatty
11
Trans-10,
Cis-12
CLA.Experiment
Experiment
Trans-10
18:1.Acids.
Experiment
1
a Linear
response of K0 through K3 (P<0.05)
t10 18:1
416.5
355.6
317.6
295.3
234.7
K0
K1
J. Dairy Science. 2014. Accepted
K2
K3
NaOH
26
26
Experiment 2 - Determine possible interactions
between K level and fat level on shifting
biohydrogenation.
Level of Added Fat
Level of Added K
0% SBO
0
-K
4% SBO
1.5%
K2CO3
3.0%
K2CO3
0%
K
1.5%
K2CO3
3.0%
K2CO3
J. Dairy Science. 2014. Accepted
Study 2. trans10 cis12
a
b
*Fat effect (P ≤ 0.05)
means with the same letter are significantly different
(P ≤ 0.05).
ab K
b
J. Dairy Science. 2014. Accepted
27
27
Study 2. trans10
a
b
*Fat effect (P ≤ 0.05)
means with the same letter are significantly
different (P ≤ 0.05).
ab K
b
J. Dairy Science. 2014. Accepted
56
Milk Fat Depression Caused by Feeding Distiller Grains and
Corn Oil to Dairy Cows Was Partially Alleviated by Supplementing Potassium Carbonate
Kat Lamar
M.S. Candidate The Ohio State University
Major Professor: Bill Weiss
28
28
Methods and Materials



16 mid-lactation Holstein cows
• 12 multiparous
• 4 primiparous
4x4 replicated Latin square
• 2x2 factorial
21 day periods
Treatments

K
No Added K (1.2% K)
Added K: DCAD Plus (Church & Dwight) (2.2% K)
Fat
• Low Fat: 27% reduced fat DGS (4.2% LCFA)
• High Fat: DGS + corn oil + corn gluten meal
= 27% high fat DGS (5.8% LCFA)
•
•

58
29
29
Milk Fat
Treatment
Item
P<
LF‐K LF+K HF‐K HF+K SEM
K
Fat
KxFat
Milk fat, %
2.74 2.99 2.39
2.64
0.13 0.01 0.01
1.00
Milk fat, kg/d
0.92 0.94 0.72
0.80
0.98 0.10 0.01
0.27
No KxFat interaction
Added K: +0.25% and +0.05 kg/d
Added Fat: -0.35% and -0.17 kg/d
59
Milk Fatty Acids
Treatment
LF+K HF‐K
Fatty Acid, g/100g FA
LF‐K
trans‐6+8 18:1
0.77 0.59 1.07 0.79
0.67 0.47 1.02 0.66
2.46 1.75 3.52 2.52
0.41 0.36 0.55 0.44
0.041 0.031 0.095 0.048
trans‐9 18:1
trans‐10 18:1
trans‐12 18:1
trans‐10, cis‐12 CLA
HF+K SEM
0.06
0.08
0.25
0.03
0.01
K
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.02
P<
Fat KxFat
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.01
0.30
0.28
0.46
0.15
0.12
30
30
Temporal effect of feeding potassium
carbonate sesquihydrate on milk fat
Guiling Ma
Advisor: Joe Harrison
2013 American Dairy Science Association (ADSA)
9:45 AM - July.12.2013
MATERIAL AND METHODS



Animal:
• Ten multiparous dairy cow
• Early lactation period
Diet:
• Control: DCAD = 377 mEq/kg , 1.8% K
• DCAD+: DCAD = 543 mEq/kg , 2.3% K
Management:
• Individually fed via Calan head gates
•
Period 1 (Week 1)
Ten
•
cows on same control diet
Period 2 (Week 2 to 4)
Five
Five
cows on control diet
cows on DCAD+ diet
31
31
MILK FAT %
4.4
Control
4.3
**
DCAD+
4.2
4.1
4
Fat%
3.9
3.8
3.7
3.6
3.5
1
2
Period
** P<0.01 Period 1 = week 1; Period 2 = week 2 - 4
MILK FAT % IN PERIOD 2
4.5
*
4.4
* *
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
16
17
*
*
4.3
4.2
Fat%
4.1
4
3.9
3.8
Control
3.7
DCAD+
3.6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
18
19
20
21
Day
* P<0.05, Period 2 = week 2 to 4
32
32
Want More
Fat Information?
Go to You Tube and search
for Fatty Acid Forum
or
virtusnutrition.com/thefatty-acid-forum/
Thank You!!!
33
33