Effect of prolonged dietary supplementation of unsaturated fatty acids on performance, oocyte and embryo quality, and immune function of dairy cows

• Grant number: 12/02360-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): March 07, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Nutrition and Feeding
• Principal Investigator: Francisco Palma Rennó
• Grantee: Rodrigo Gardinal
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/13132-5 - Effect of prolonged dietary supplementation with unsaturated fatty acids on the produtive performance, oocyte and embryo quality, and on the immune system of dairy cattle, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

The transition period is considered to have great importance in the production cycle of dairy cows due to the occurrence of several changes in animal metabolism and physiology. These changes, mediated by hormonal and metabolic responses are the result of the modification of predominant physiological state, switching from pregnant non-lactating to non-pregnant lactating, when changes in feeding and management can result in important changes in animal metabolism, modifying the productive and reproductive performance of these animals during the production cycle. Recent studies show that supplementation of cow with diets containing polyunsaturated fatty acids as an energy source, besides the increase in energy density of the diet, may be potent regulators of metabolism and have a positive influence in the liver, adipose, mammary, reproductive and immune function (nutraceutical). Although some research centers are directing studies in this area, the results revealed the need to expand the number of projects conducted in the area due to the complexity of the issue, because most research on lipids for ruminants are concentrated in nutritional outcomes and there are few results that correlate the influence of this supplementation on the reproductive and immune responses of dairy cows during the transition period. In this scenario highlights the importance and need for further research to understand the effects of time of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in animal metabolism, with consequent changes in the productive, reproductive and immune responses. In terms of Brazil, there is few research in this area, partially due to the experimental limitations and partially due to the fact that the subject is relatively recent or even the need for projects to be developed by evaluating different knowledge areas, featuring remarkable multidisciplinarity. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of prolonged dietary supplementation of whole soybean as a source of unsaturated fatty acids in dairy cows on performance, oocyte and embryo quality, immune function, concentrations of plasma metabolites and hormones. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GARDINAL, R.; CALOMENI, G. D.; ZANFERARI, F.; VENDRAMINI, T. H. A.; TAKIYA, C. S.; DEL VALLE, T. A.; RENNO, F. P.. Different durations of whole raw soybean supplementation during the prepartum period: Milk fatty acid profile and oocyte and embryo quality of early-lactating Holstein cows. JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE, v. 101, n. 1, p. 675-689, JAN 2018. (12/02360-1)

GARDINAL, R.; CALOMENI, G. D.; ZANFERARI, F.; VENDRAMINI, T. H. A.; TAKIYA, C. S.; BERTAGNON, H. G.; BATISTA, C. F.; DELLA LIBERA, A. M. M. P.; RENNO, F. P.. Different durations of whole raw soybean supplementation during the prepartum period: Measures of cellular immune function in transition cows. JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE, v. 101, n. 1, p. 661-674, JAN 2018. (12/02360-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GARDINAL, Rodrigo. Effect of prolonged supplementation with raw whole soybean during prepartum on productive performance, oocyte and embryo quality, and immune function of dairy cows. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) Pirassununga.