Table 1 Summary of studies in periparturient dairy cows investigating the effects of supplemental essential fatty acids on performances

ALA (C18:3n-3)

Whole flaxseed

9.7

Higher milk yields as compared with control cows or cows fed whole sunflower

[22]

11

−49 to 28 DFC^d

No effect on milk yield

[23]

Reduced milk fat

[24]

No effect on milk fat

[25]

Extruded flaxseed

4 to 9.2

0 to 100 DFC

2.7% to 6.4% increase in MY

[26]

4 to 15

Different phases

Reduced butterfat

[27, 28]

No effect on milk fat

[29]

Flaxseed oil

No effect on milk yield relative to palm oil

[30]

Encapsulated flaxseed oil

Reduced milk fat as compared with cows supplemented with encapsulated saturated fatty acids

[31]

EPA (C20:5n-3) and DHA (C22:6n-3)

Fish oil

0.8 to 3

Reduced DMI; +/− MY: increase of MY adding up to 1% DM of fish oil, followed by a linear decrease with addition of fish oil up to 3% of DM; consistent decrease of milk fat content

[21, 32]

2

No effect on milk yield

[33]

Encapsulated fish oil

2.9

Transition period

No effect on milk yield and reduced butterfat as compared with cows fed encapsulated saturated fatty acids or flaxseed oil at the same rate

[31]