Fat Feeding Programme benefits

“What we describe as ‘fat’ is actually composed of individual fatty acids and it is the balance of these different fatty acids which results in a particular response when supplemented to dairy cows,” explains Volac Wilmar’s Dr Richard Kirkland, who said that advice from the programme will be available to those in the agri-sector including ruminant nutritionists and farmers. “However, the majority of diet formulation systems pay little attention to detailed fatty acid nutrition. With new research data becoming available, it is clear that the days of offering ‘fats’ simply as a source of energy and treating all fats the same are gone.

"The dairy sector has transitioned from crude protein to amino acids; it’s now time to stop feeding ‘fat’ and start thinking about individual ‘fatty acids’.”

Jonas de Souza, of Michigan State University’s department of animal science explains: “The majority of fats in a dairy cow’s diet are made up of five different fatty acids: C16:0 (palmitic); C18:0 (stearic); C18:1 (oleic); C18:2 (linoleic) and C18:3 (linolenic). Each fatty acid has a unique mode of action and potentially a different role to play at different times during the lactation. See table 1.

Table 1: Five major fatty acids found in dairy feeds – summary

Fatty acid Name When to feed Why

C16:0 Palmitic acid Most beneficial in mid to late lactation Increases partitioning of nutrients to milk to improve fat production.

C18:0 Stearic acid - Digestibility decreases with increasing intake of C18:0. No supplementation required.

C18:1 Oleic acid Most beneficial in early lactation Improves digestibility of total diet fat and increases partition of nutrients to improve body condition. Also promotes development of eggs to improve fertility.

C18:2 Linoleic acid - Plentiful in diet. No supplementation required.

C18.3 Linolenic acid Early lactation Improves embryo survival to increase fertility.

“New research data from Michigan State University have not only demonstrated the clear effects of C16:0 fatty acids in dairy diets, increasing milk fat % and total milk fat production per day, but also leading to an improvement in fibre digestibility.

"Our data also indicates a unique effect of C18:1 fatty acid, increasing insulin production and consequently increasing the proportion of energy partitioned to body fat. These results enable us to better tailor our advice on which fats to feed at different stages of lactation.”

Dr John Newbold explained how the Fat Feeding Programme will enable producers to start fresh thinking about fat in the diet.

“From now on diet formulation needs to be all about identifying each fatty acid and its impact on performance. For example, ‘high-C16’ supplements may be inappropriate for early lactation cows as this fatty acid appears to result in loss of body weight, but may be better-suited later in lactation to sustain high levels of milk and milk fat production. In contrast, supplements providing rumen-protected C18:1 may be ideal in early lactation due to the beneficial effects of this fatty acid on insulin, body condition, fat digestibility and fertility.

“The Fat Feeding Programme will ultimately guide producers to finely tune their diets leading to improved milk production, body condition and fertility and the ability to supplement diets to ensure they produce milk more-suited to the requirements of their individual contract.”

He adds: “Volac Wilmar manufactures a full range of fat supplements to target specific scenarios at farm level and the Fat Feeding Programme enables us to offer unbiased advice based on latest global research evidence with the product support to back up this advice.”

Five major fatty acids found in dairy feeds

C16:0 – Increases energy density in the diet and can drive both milk fat % and yield (kg/day) with variable responses in milk yield. Emerging research suggests that this fatty acid increases body weight loss and may be less suitable for use in early lactation cows; C16:0 may also increase fibre digestibility.

C18:0 – This fatty acid has poor digestibility, particularly at higher levels of intake. Supplements with higher levels of this fatty acid are not recommended.

C18:1 – A highly-digestible fatty acid which can also improve total fatty acid digestibility, increasing the energy available from the diet. Recent data demonstrates beneficial effects on egg quality and embryo development, along with a stimulation of insulin production and improved body weight.

C18:2 – A common fatty acid in many feed ingredients including maize crops and cereals. Cows typically consume an abundance of C18:2 and higher levels can reduce fertility. Generally, little C18.2 is needed for supplementation.

C18:3 – An essential, omega-3, fatty acid which can be low in dairy diets, especially those containing low levels of green forage. Key potential benefits are for improved fertility and health in early lactation cows.