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Effect of dietary EPA and DHA supplementation during last month of gestation on plasma fatty acids composition of Charolais calves and cows

Introduction. The significance of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) fatty acids (FA) is of most importance in the perinatal period for the development of the central nervous and immune system. Nevertheless, there is limited data on the adaptation of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA) metabolism during gestation in cows. Therefore, the aim of this research was to investigate the influence of EPA and DHA supplementation during the late gestation on FA metabolism of cows and their calves. Animals, materials and methods. In the feeding trial were included a total of 20 Charolais cows during the last month of their gestation. All the cows were fed a basal TMR diet, consisting of haylage and corn concentrate, and had constant access to drinking water. One month before expected calving, the cows were divided into a control group (CON) and an experimental group (EPA+DHA). The latter group (EPA+DHA) was supplemented with a fat supplement, high in EPA and DHA (FATMIX 65, AND Nutrition, Spain) at the amount of 100 g/day (9.1 and 7.8 g/cow/day of EPA and DHA, respectively) from 30 days prior to expected calving until the partus. Blood samples were collected on the day of calving from cows and their calves (v. jugularis, plasma). Analysis of FA composition was performed by Shimadzu GC2010Plus Gas Chromatograph, equipped with a flame ionization detector and a 30-m capillary column ZB WAX (Phenomenex, Torrance, CA, USA). Data were analyzed using GraphPadPrism6 software between the groups of cows and calves using the unpaired t-test (p<0, 05) (GraphPad Software, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). This study was approved by the institutional ethical committee. Results and discussion. In cow plasma, concentrations of PUFA, n-3 FA, and n-3 LC PUFA were significantly higher in the DHA+EPA group. FA composition of the plasma in DHA+EPA was significantly altered: we found significantly higher concentrations for alpha- linolenic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, EPA and docosapentaenoic acid. Meanwhile, the plasma FA composition of calves was not affected by the supplementation of dams during gestation. Conclusion. Supplementation of low dosage EPA and DHA, during gestation, alters plasma composition in cows and enables a pool for incorporation in milk and peripheral tissues. The observed sparing effect of essential fatty acids: ALA and LA, as well for other LC PUFAs is visible in the EPA+DHA group of cows. Meanwhile, the same effect was not detected in calf plasma which suggests a limited transplacental transfer of LCPUFA or fast utilization during the last month of gestation for the development of the immunological system and neurological tissues in calves (brain and retina)

Charolais calves and cows, EPA, DHA, plasma

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