IMPACT OF DIETARY EICOSAPENTAENOIC AND DOCOSAHEXAENOIC FATTY ACIDS SUPPLEMENTATION ON INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE OF POST CALVING COWS DURING TRANSITION TO LACTATION

Abstract

The aim of current study was to determine the effect of dietary omega 3 fatty acids (FA) mainly eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) on inflammatory response of post calving cows during transition to lactation. Twenty Holstein lactating cows were assigned into two groups (10 each). The two groups fed on the basal diet while one of them was supplemented with 70 g of omega-3 FA per cow. The supplement was added to the diet from the 1ST day of calving till the 60th days of lactation. Blood samples were taken 3 times weekly from the 2nd to the 4th week post calving. The blood samples were analyzed for glucose, insulin, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), beta hydroxyl butyric acid (BHBA), C- reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin, albumin and globulin. Feeding omega-3 FAs significantly increased (P