Intravenous injections of cobalt reduce fatty acid desaturation products in milk and blood of lactating cows

• Published in: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition Vol. 94; no. 5; pp. 635 - 640
• Main Authors: Taugbøl, O, Karlengen, I.J, Salbu, B, Aastveit, A.H, Harstad, O.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2010
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; bovine milk; Cattle - blood; cobalt; Cobalt - administration & dosage; Cobalt - pharmacology; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Injections, Intravenous; Lipids - analysis; Lipids - blood; Milk - chemistry; oleic acid; Δ⁹-desaturase
• ISSN: 0931-2439; 1439-0396
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2009.00950.x

The objective of this study was to determine whether intravenous infusion of Co affects levels of fatty acid desaturation products in bovine milk. Six cows were assigned to two replicated 3 x 3 Latin squares with 14-day periods. Treatment occurred on days 1 to 5 and depuration occurred on days 6-14. Two treatments were tested, the first consisting of per os supplementation of 3.5 g Co daily in the form of Co acetate and the second consisting of intravenous injection of 175 mg Co daily in the form of Co acetate diluted in saline solution. The third treatment was a control. Both Co treatments decreased cis-9 18:1 levels from approximately 18 to 14 g/100 g fatty acids, and increased 18:0 levels from 11 to 17 g/100 g fatty acids in milk fat (p < 0.001). The proportions of cis-9 10:1, cis-9 12:1, cis-9 14:1, cis-9 16:1 and cis-9 17:1 decreased (p < 0.001), whereas 17:0 and trans-11 18:1 increased (p < 0.001). In blood plasma, levels of cis (6,9,12) 18:3 (p < 0.001) and cis (8,11,14,17) 20:4 (p = 0.008) decreased after both the Co treatments. It is concluded that intravenous supply of Co reduces levels of fatty acid desaturation products in both bovine milk and blood.