Controlling Rumen Biohydrogenation: Innovation Opportunities in Ruminant Feeding

Rumen biohydrogenation converts dietary unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) into saturated fatty acids (SFA), reducing the nutritional value of ruminant‐derived meat and milk. Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) from tropical forages has been proposed as a natural inhibitor of this pathway. In a cross‐ over in vivo trial with three sheep, we compared: (1) negative control (NC, complete feed); (2) positive control (PC, feed + 1 mL linseed oil); and (3) feed + 3 mL PPO emulsion (from Gliricidia sepium). Carcass fat from the thigh and back was analyzed by gas chromatography. PPO treatment increased linoleic acid (C18:2) in thigh fat by 50% vs NC and 157% vs PC, while stearic acid (C18:0) decreased by 76% vs NC and 22% vs PC. Back‐ fat linoleic acid rose by 12.5% (NC) and 42.9% (PC), and stearic acid fell by 76.2% and 11.5%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that PPO emulsion effectively protects UFAs from rumen biohydrogenation, yielding a healthier fatty acid profile in sheep meat. The use of plant‐derived PPO as a feed additive presents a promising strategy for producing functional ruminant products and mitigating SFA‐related health risks.