EFFECTS OF FEEDING ALPHA-TOCOPHEROL AND CALCIUM SALTS OF FATTY-ACIDS ON VITAMIN-E AND FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF COWS MILK

Four experiments were carried out with Holstein cows in early lactation to assess the effect of feeding, 0, 50, and 400 IU of vitamin E/kg of DM on transfer of vitamin E to milk fat. The effects of adding 50 g of calcium salts of fatty acids/kg of DM on DM intake, milk production, and milk quality also were studied. Feeding of 10 g of vitamin E (dl-α-tocopheryl acetate) per cow daily for 4 wk prepartum and about 8 g daily (400 IU/kg of dietary DM) for wk 1 to 8 of lactation maintained 40 to 54 μg of vitamin E/g of milk fat. Transfer of vitamin E to milk in early lactation was impaired, and the causes for this are discussed. Feeding calcium salts of fatty acids had a tendency to reduce DM intake and decreased protein and lactose content of milk in one experiment. This treatment had little effect on fatty acid composition and vitamin E content of milk fat in early lactation, but after peak production it increased oleic and linoleic acids in milk fat. © 1990, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.