Effects of dietary fat supplementation on reproduction in lactating dairy cows

Fat content of the diet should be increased above the typical 3% of diet DM for cows in the early postpartum period in order to better meet the energy density recommendations of the NRC. Additional benefits such as increased milk, better management of body condition, and/or improved pregnancy rates may occur. Feeding Calcium Salts of Long Chain Fatty Acids (CaLCFA) statistically improved pregnancy or conception rates in a number of studies. Feeding fish meal, possibly due to its unique fatty acids, also appears to hold promise for enhanced fertility. Feeding 0.454 kg/day of CaLCFA or fish meal at approximately 3% of diet DM has improved performance. Improvement in fertility apart from improved energy status suggests that fat supplementation mediates it's positive effect through other physiological mechanisms such as : progesterone concentrations in plasma are enhanced by fat supplementation and may enhance embryo survival; certain Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA), such as linoleic acid and eicosapentanoic acids may reduce uterine secretion of PGF(2 alpha). Nutritional managment programs can be integrated with reproductive managment programs.