Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring anticarcinogen found in milk fat and body fat of ruminants. Although CLA is an intermediate in ruminal biohydrogenation of linoleic acid, we hypothesized that its primary source was from endogenous synthesis. This would involve Delta(9)-desaturase and synthesis from trans-11 18:1, another intermediate in ruminal biohydrogenation. Our first experiment supplied lactating cows (n = 3) with trans-11 18:1 by abomasal infusion and examined the potential for endogenous synthesis by measuring changes in milk fat CLA. By d 3, infusion of trans-11 18:1 resulted in a 31% increase in concentration of cis-9, trans-11 CLA in milk fat, demonstrating that an active pathway for endogenous synthesis of CLA exists. Our second experiment examined the quantitative importance of endogenous synthesis of CLA in lactating cows (n = 3) by abomasally infusing a putative stimulator (retinol palmitate) or an inhibitor (sterculic oil) of Delta(9)-desaturase. Infusion of retinol palmitate had no influence on milk fatty acid desaturation, and yield of CLA in milk fat was not altered. However, sterculic oil infusion decreased the concentration of CLA in milk fat by 45%. Consistent with Delta(9)-desaturase inhibition, the sterculic oil treatment also altered the milk fat concentration of other Delta(9)-desaturase products as indicated by the two- to threefold increase in the ratios of 14:0 to 14:1(,) 16:0 to 16:1 and 18:0 to cis-18:1. Using changes in the ratio of 14:0 to 14:1 as an indication of the extent of Delta(9)-desaturase inhibition with the sterculic oil treatment, an estimated 64% of the CLA in milk fat was of endogenous origin. Overall, results demonstrate that endogenous synthesis of CLA from trans-11 18:1 represented the primary source of CLA in milk fat of lactating cows.

Conjugated linoleic acid is synthesized endogenously in lactating dairy cows by Delta(9)-desaturase.

The Composition of Bovine Milk Lipids: January 1995 to December 2000

The potential to modify the milk fatty acid (FA) composition by changing the cow or goat diets is reviewed. Ruminal biohydrogenation (RBH), combined with mammary lipogenic and A-9 desaturation pathways, considerably modifies the profile of dietary FA and thus milk composition. The pasture has major effects by decreasing saturated FA and increasing FA considered as favorable for human health (c9-18:1, 18:3n-3 and c9t11-CLA), compared to winter diets, especially those based on maize silage and concentrates. Plant lipid supplements have effects similar to pasture, especially linseed, but they increase to a larger extent, simultaneously several trans isomers of 18:1 and, conjugated or non-conjugated 18:2, especially when added to maize silage or concentrate-rich diets. The goat responds better for milk 18:3n-3 and c9t11-CLA, and sometimes less for c9-18:1, and is less prone to the RBH trans-11 to trans-10 shift, which has been shown to be time dependent in the cow. The respective physiological roles of most milk trans FA have not been studied to date, and more studies in rodents and humans fed dairy products modified by changing ruminant diet are required before recommending a larger use of lipid sources and how to combine them with the different feeding systems used by dairy farmers.

Diet, rumen biohydrogenation and nutritional quality of cow and goat milk fat

After a brief survey of metabolic pathways and nutrient fluxes involved in mammary lipogenesis, this review summarises the known effects of diet on ruminant milk fat composition. Special attention is given to fatty acids that could play a positive role for human health, such as butyric acid, oleic acid, C18 to C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). The efficiency of the transfer of C18:2, C18:3, C20:5, C22:5 and C22:6, from the duodenum to the milk, is reviewed. The main dietary factors taken into account are the nature of forages, including pasture, and the supplementation of dairy rations with protected or unprotected vegetable or fish oils. Dose-response curves of milk CLA are reviewed for different fat supplements, as well as the non-linear relationship between milk CLA and trans C18:1. The potential of dietary factors to increase the mean CLA content in cow milk fat is about 300% above basal values. There is, however, a need to evaluate how the different feeding strategies could change the other aspects of milk fat quality.

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Ruminant milk fat plasticity: nutritional control of saturated, polyunsaturated, trans and conjugated fatty acids

Effect of different types of forages, animal fat or marine oils in cow’s diet on milk fat secretion and composition, especially conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids

G.J. Brisson

Papers

Dietary soybeans extruded at different temperatures: milk composition and in situ fatty acid reactions

Fatty Acid Profile and Physical Properties of Milk Fat from Cows fed Calcium Salts of Fatty Acids with Varying Unsaturation

Performance and profiles of milk fatty acids of cows fed full fat, heat-treated soybeans using various processing methods.

Plasma Lipids, Ketone Bodies, and Glucose Concentrations in Calves Fed High-and Low-Fat Milk Replacers

Nutritive Value of Bacterial Sludge and Whey Powders for Protein in Calf Milk Replacers and on Chromic Oxide as Indicator of Digestibility