Off-campus South Dakota State University users: To download campus access theses, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your South Dakota State University ID and password.

Non-South Dakota State University users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this thesis through interlibrary loan.

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2007

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Dairy Science

First Advisor

David J. Schingoethe

Abstract

Dairy cows are often subjected to dietary modifications so as to increase the healthful fatty acids in milk. The important fatty acids include conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 / n-3 fatty acids. Conjugated linoleic acid, a naturally-occurring polyunsaturated fatty acid, is found preferentially in ruminant milk and meat. It has potential health benefits such as being anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherogenic, anti-obesity, and anti- diabetic as well as contributing to immune system enhancement in animal models and humans. Since the human body is unable to synthesize conjugated linoleic acid except from vaccenic acid which is also found in ruminant milk and meat, it is important to increase its production in milk. It has been observed that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids influence the fatty acid composition of inflammatory and immune cells in humans; however, little information is available about the effects of conjugated linoleic acid on the immune system of dairy cattle. We conducted the following experiments, based on the hypothesis that feeding condensed com distiller solubles and fish oil would increase the conjugated linoleic acid content in milk and that conjugated linoleic acid improves the immune response. Twelve lactating Holstein cows were fed diets containing either fish oil or condensed com distiller solubles or both in a 4x 4 Latin square design. Feeding fish oil or condensed com distiller solubles resulted in decreased percentages and yield of fat in milk; however, greater concentrations of n-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid and vaccenic acid in milk were observed. Greater concentrations of vaccenic acid in milk and plasma indicated that endogenous synthesis from vaccenic acid also contributed to conjugated linoleic acid in milk. Immune tesponse was monitored by culturing peripheral blood mononuclear cells with mitogens to measure the proliferation response and cell surface phenotyping by flowcytometry for specific bovine leukocyte markers. Feeding the diet containing both fish oil and condensed corn distiller solubles resulted in decreased T cell mediated immunity and enhanced innate immune response. These results will help dairy producers to establish a nutritional practice for the production of milk rich in beneficial fatty acids resulting in increased net returns and also aid in the development of nutritionally-based therapeutic applications to augment host resistance.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Dairy cattle -- Feeding and feeds
Fish oils as feed
Distillers feeds
Corn as feed
Linoleic acid
Fatty acids
Immune response

Description

Includes bibliographical references (pages 84-101)

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

115

Publisher

South Dakota State University

Rights

In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Download

Share

COinS