Feeding polyunsaturated vegetable oils to lactating cows

Holstein cows fed concentrate:hay diets also were fed for 14 days supplements of soybean oil plus casein, soybean oil protected from ruminal hydrogenation by encapsulation in a casein-formaldehyde matrix, cottonseed oil plus casein, or cottonseed oil protected with casein formaldehyde. The supplements were fed at rates to give a linoleic acid (18:2) intake of 225 g/day. Yields of milk and milk protein were not affected by treatment. Milk 18:2 was not increased by the unprotected soybean oil or cottonseed oil but was increased by protected soybean and cottonseed oil from a control of 2.3 to 5.7% of total milk fat. Milk 18:0 and 18:1 also increased. Compensatory declines were observed in milk 16:0 and 14:0 acids. In fecal fatty acids during the treatment periods, percentage of 18:2 of the total fat decreased and 18:0 markedly increased. These results indicate hydrogenation of the dietary oils in the alimentary tract or a differential absorption. Fecal 16:0 and 14:0 decreased.