Soybean oil with calcium as a way to enrich the diet of cows with omega-6 fatty acids

Currently, the global MEAT industry is faced with the challenge of increasing production efficiency with the wise use of limited natural resources. Adding omega-6 fatty acids to cattle diets could be a beneficial dietary intervention, scientists say

The United Nations estimates that beef production needs to increase by 120% in the coming decades to feed a growing world population.

At the same time, resources for beef farming are declining as urbanization and expansion of urban areas. In this regard, new approaches should be taken, for example, through the addition of beef cattle to the feed rations.

All over the world, beef cattle production relies on the quality of feed rations supplied to livestock during their productive lives.

However, forage quality varies from season to season, requiring additional strategies to address nutrient deficiencies.

Fat supplements are commonly used as a means of providing energy to cattle, but in addition to their energy contribution, these additional fats may have nutraceutical value, especially omega-6 fatty acids.

The addition of omega-6 fatty acids (FAs) to beef cattle was tested in a study conducted by a team of scientists from Texas A&M University, Mississippi State University, usa , and Nutricorp, Brazil.

In their work, the researchers describe how they solved the main problem of supplying fatty acids to the body of livestock. The problem was initially that omega-6 fatty acids from natural feed ingredients such as soybean oil are very sensitive to rumen biohydrogenation.

Therefore, to reduce rumen biohydrogenation and maximize delivery of omega-6 fatty acids to the duodenum for absorption, soybean oil supplemented with calcium was used.

Divalent cations such as Ca react with FAs to form insoluble soaps that cannot be dissociated or modified by rumen microbes. In turn, calcium FA soaps dissociate when exposed to the low pH of abomasum, releasing fatty acids for duodenal absorption.

In cow-calf systems, the addition of the supplement to the diet improved fertility and pregnancy.

The addition of omega-6 fatty acids via calcium soap to beef cows after artificial insemination increased the pregnancy rate by 25%.

Cows fed omega-6 fatty acids in this form late in pregnancy gave birth to healthier calves with better fattening gains, demonstrating the benefits of this supplement.

The addition of omega-6 fatty acids to young cattle also produced systemic effects to improve adipogenesis and carcass quality, as well as to stimulate calf immunity to stressful conditions such as weaning and transfer to the feedlot. These two stressful events are among the most important in the production cycle when cattle are exposed to various physiological and physical stressors, including road transport, new diets and environmental conditions, and association with new animals.

The combination of all factors often triggers neuroendocrine and inflammatory responses that directly impair the immunocompetence and productivity of animals.

Therefore, strategies to increase immunity in the initial stages of cutting are justified, including the introduction of omega-6 fatty acids. According to the results of slaughter, the bulls that received the indicated additive from 6 months of age had the best marbling of the carcass and the quality of the meat.