Kikuyo grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) allowance, state of lactation and milk fatty acid profile

Objective. To evaluate the effect of kikuyu offer and stage of lactation on fatty acids profile on milk fat of grazing dairy bovines. Materials and methods. Eighteen Holstein cows with average weight of 585±10 Kg in two to four calvings on first and second lactation stages. Cows were divided in three groups and assigned randomly to one of three treatments (pasture allowances of 2.6, 3.3 or 4.0 KgDM/100 Kg LW). Milk fatty acid profiles were determined on days 14 and 21 of the experimental period. Results. Fatty acids C6:0, C16:0, C18:1cis9, C18:3 remained constant between different forage allowances and lactation stage were used. On the treatments of highest allowance, there was an increase between days 14 and 21 of C10:0 andC12:0 acids while C18:1t11,C18:2c9c12, C18:2c9,t11, and polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased their concentration. The lowest allowance had a different behavior. A higher concentration of ALC was observed in animals of second stage compared to first stage of lactation. Conclusions. It was not possible to conclude on the effects of forage allowance on the fatty acid profile of milk, due to variations between sampling dates. It is possible that mobilization of fat storage can explain the different behavior of fatty acid concentrations between sampling days.