Refining Nutrition Based on Fatty Acid Profile
Milk is composed of 40% fat which corresponds to the second dry matter component after lactose.
The proportions of fatty acids vary according to the diets and the breed of the cow. Other factors also influence the fat composition, such as the health of the animals or the energy coverage.
Fatty acids are thus indicators of the overall health of your dairy cows. How to interpret them and implement corrective measures?
Why analyze the fatty acid profile
Fat quality : an excellent indicator
In dairy farming, from bulk tank milk or individual samples from performance control, fatty acid analyses highlight a global profile of the herd. To support this statement, recent national studies have defined objective thresholds allowing animals to be in an optimal zone. These thresholds highlight the herd status on different criteria :
- The overall health of dairy cows.
- Rumen function.
- Diet balance.
- Energy deficit.
More precise indicators
Fatty acid analysis is more detailed than fat content (TB) or protein content (TP). Indeed, it is not uncommon to obtain satisfactory rates while the in-depth fatty acid analysis reveals an underlying metabolic problem.
The interpretation of fatty acids also reveals reactions related to variations, such as dietary transitions, changes in silage bunkers or heat stress. The historical tracking of analyses highlights variations that will subsequently provide alerts to improve the management of your herd and enhance production and reproduction performance.
These fatty acid profile analyses generate new indicators for farmers. Combined with herd observations, they allow finer management of feeding and anticipation of corrective actions.
A quick overview of herd health
This graph results from fatty acid analysis and allows at a glance to check the herd health. Here, for example, we see a peak in fatty acids corresponding to an energy deficit following a change in the ration. Thus, the farmer can implement a corrective measure directly.
Regular analysis of the Fatty Acid profile allows fine management and rapid reaction.
Fatty acid profile analysis enables better performance
Technical performance
Eilyps conducted a study on 658 herds to demonstrate the performance of a balanced fatty acid profile. Two groups were thus created, those with an effective fatty acid profile (OK) and those without an effective fatty acid profile (KO Group).
The table below clearly shows that a balanced profile results in higher milk production, better quality milk with a higher TP, a shorter calving/AI interval and milk containing fewer cells, thus healthier cows.
| Indicator | KO Group | OK Group |
|---|---|---|
| Overall effectiveness of Fatty Acid profile | No | Yes |
| Milk production (kg/day) | 24.4 | 28.8 |
| TP (Protein content) (g/kg) | 33.9 | 34.2 |
| IVIAF (Calving/Artificial Insemination Interval) (days) | 102 | 84 |
| % SCC (Somatic Cell Count) < 150 | 60.7 | 75.0 |
Economic performance
This better technical performance of the OK group translates into better economic performance: increased milk sale price, milk volume and thus a logically better margin on feed cost, despite higher feed costs.
Thus, the monthly MCA must validate the expected economic result … if the result does not align with the Fatty Acid profile, the problem does not come from the diet balance.
| Economic criterion | KO Group | OK Group |
|---|---|---|
| Composition impact (€ / 1000 L) | 28.0 | 30.8 |
| Price paid (€ / 1000 L) | 356.3 | 365.6 |
| Feed cost (€ / cow) | 2.18 | 2.42 |
| Margin on Feed Cost (€ / cow / day) | 4.78 | 8.22 |
Cows with a balanced fatty acid profile are healthy cows!
Would you like to know more about fatty acids? Their in-depth analysis may help highlight an energy deficit or rumen dysfunction in your cows.
An expert knows how to analyze and interpret fatty acids. Coupled with complementary analyses such as urea, rates, lactose or cells collected from bulk tank milk samples, they can provide a finer interpretation.
Sources
Discussion with Laurent Meriaux, Research and Innovation Director at EILYPS, a consulting and expertise company in livestock farming.
