Date of Award
12-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Committee Chair/Advisor
Dr. Matias Aguerre
Committee Member
Dr. Thomas Jenkins
Committee Member
Dr. Gustavo Lascano
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the effects of feeding gelatin capsules treated with alcoholic solutions of flavoring agents followed by drying containing fish oil on lactation performance, rumen fatty acids content and milk enrichment of fatty acids. In Trial 1, four multiparous ruminally-fistulated Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatment sequences in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of 1) Control with no capsules, 2) Control plus 200 untreated capsules per cow/day, mixed with the TMR; 3) Control plus 200 treated capsules per cow/day placed directly into the rumen, 4) Control plus 200 treated capsules per cow/day, mixed with the TMR. The total dose in treated and untreated capsules was 28 g of EPA and 13 g of DHA. In Trial 2, three fistulated Holstein and three fistulated Jersey multiparous cows were randomly assigned to three dietary treatment sequences in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design. Treatments consisted of 1) Control with no capsules fed to the cows, 2) Control plus 180 untreated capsules per cow/day, and 3) Control plus 180 treated capsules per cow/day. The total dose in treated and untreated capsules was 15.58 g of EPA and 12.75 g of DHA. Compared to control, feeding fish oil capsules significantly (Trial 1) or numerically (Trial 2) reduced milk fat concentration and yield. Furthermore, feeding untreated or treated capsules in both trials did not affect animal performance or milk composition. Compared to controls, supplementing the diet with fish oil capsules in both trials consistently increased total trans-C18:1 isomers and DHA concentration in the rumen and milk fat. However, for both trials, capsule protection treatment had a minimal effect on the concentration of any of the reported rumen and milk fatty acids. When assessed under laboratory control conditions, the treated capsule weight was increased by 40% due to water absorption, while resistance to pressure decreased by 84% after 2 hours of incubation in water. Results of this study suggest that due to reduced capsule shell resistance to abrasion, treated capsules marginally prevented the release of fish oil in the rumen.
Recommended Citation
Pena Pena, Omar Manuel, "Novel Protected Gelatin Capsules Containing Fish Oil Mitigated the Effect of Milk Fat Depression and Reduced Rumen Degradation Compared to Untreated Capsules" (2023). All Theses. 4201.
https://open.clemson.edu/all_theses/4201