"Our objective was to determine if supplementing colostrum with oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FA) would give calves a health and performance advantage in early life. Three experiments encompassed this objective. The first utilized 16 Holstein calves (n = 16; 8 bulls and 8 heifers). Control calves (CON) received no supplement in colostrum whereas calves with treatment (FFE) received 60 mL 1:1 ratio fish and flaxseed oil with 200 mg vitamin E in the first feeding of colostrum. FFE elevated plasma N-3 FA and decreased oxidant status index (OSi) during week one. 24 Holstein calves (n = 24; 12 bulls and 12 heifers) were studied in the second experiment with the main objective of analyzing the dose response of our colostrum supplement. Treatments included CON and fish and flaxseed oil in amounts of 30, 60, and 120 mL supplemented to colostrum (FF30, FF60, and FF120, respectively). FF treatments increased n-3 FA and some n-3 FA-derived oxylipids but failed to reduce OSi. The third experiment aimed to observe health and growth of supplemented calves (n = 180; all heifers) to determine if molecular changes observed in previous experiments could have biologically relevant effects on early life performance. The three treatments were CON, FF (60 mL 1:1 fish and flaxseed oil), and FFE (60 mL 1:1 fish and flaxseed oil with 200 mg vitamin E). We found that FF and FFE did not alter health or growth. In conclusion, though n-3 FA supplemented in colostrum was a viable strategy to enhance n-3 FA content in plasma during wk 1 of life and decrease indicators of oxidative stress, a one-time dose in colostrum did not improve calf health or growth in early life."--Page ii.
Read
