Dietary fatty acid sources on nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation characteristic, blood metabolite, and fatty acid profile in sheep

This study examined the effects of dietary oils rich in n-6 and n-3 fatty acids on the nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, rumen fermentation characteristic, blood metabolites, and fatty acid profiles in sheep. Using a 4 × 4 Latin square design, four pre-pubertal female sheep were fed diets supplemented with either no oil (control), corn oil, linseed oil, or calcium salt of fatty acids. The results showed no significant changes (P > 0.05) in feed intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, microbial nitrogen production, or rumen microbial DNA concentration across the different treatments. Linseed oil significantly reduced (P = 0.018) ruminal ammonia concentration and increased (P < 0.001) plasma levels of C18:3n-3 and C20:5n-3 while also decreasing the n-6:n-3 ratio (P = 0.007). Calcium salt supplementation significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the total volatile fatty acid concentration and acetate to propionate ratio, but increased (P = 0.029) propionate concentration. These findings suggest that linseed oil can enhance the fatty acid profile in sheep without compromising their feed intake or digestion, potentially improve animal health and meat quality.