Effects of dietary fat modulation on milk fat quality and gene expression of goats

This study was aimed at investigating the effect of dietary fat modulation via oil blend supplement (linseed oil 1.5/3.0%, sunflower oil 1.5/3.0%, 20 g FineX (TM) NV1810) on the milk production, quality, fatty acid profile and gene (PPAR-alpha, SCD, ACAC, HMG-CoA synthase) expression of lactating Barbari goats. Eighteen goats were equally divided into three groups, where group A was given a basal diet, while group B and group C were offered two levels of oil blend in addition to the basal diet for 90 days. Oil blend supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) affected milk production, pH, titratable acidity, ash, milk solid-not-fat, and total soluble solids. Further, it significantly (P < 0.05) increased C4:0 C16:1, C18:0, C18:1n-9, C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3, MUFA, PUFA, and P/S ratio, while reduced the fatty acids C8:0 to C16:0, n-6/n-3 ratio, and SFA of milk fat. There was a positive effect (P < 0.05) of the oil blend supplement on the health and metabolic indices of milk fat. The oil supplementation levels and trial period affected the expression of the studied genes.