High rumen degradable starch decreased goat milk fat via -10, -12 conjugated linoleic acid-mediated downregulation of lipogenesis genes, particularly, .

BACKGROUND

Starch is an important substance that supplies energy to ruminants. To provide sufficient energy for high-yielding dairy ruminants, they are typically fed starch-enriched diets. However, starch-enriched diets have been proven to increase the risk of milk fat depression (MFD) in dairy cows. The starch present in ruminant diets could be divided into rumen-degradable starch (RDS) and rumen escaped starch (RES) according to their different degradation sites (rumen or intestine). Goats and cows have different sensitivities to MFD. Data regarding the potential roles of RDS in milk fat synthesis in the mammary tissue of dairy goats and in regulating the occurrence of MFD are limited.

RESULTS

Eighteen Guanzhong dairy goats (day in milk = 185 ± 12 d) with similar parity, weight, and milk yield were selected and randomly assigned to one of three groups ( = 6), which were fed an LRDS diet (Low RDS = 20.52%), MRDS diet (Medium RDS = 22.15%), or HRDS diet (High RDS = 24.88%) for 5 weeks. Compared with that of the LRDS group, the milk fat contents in the MRDS and HRDS groups significantly decreased. The yields of short-, medium- and long-chain fatty acids decreased in the HRDS group. Furthermore, increased RDS significantly decreased ruminal and abundances and increased the -10, -12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and -10 C18:1 contents in the rumen fluid.A multiomics study revealed that the HRDS diet affected mammary lipid metabolism down-regulation of , , , , , , , , , , , and . Remarkably, the significant decrease of , whose expression was depressed by -10, -12 CLA, could reduce the activity of and, consequently, downregulate the downstream gene expression of SREBF1.

CONCLUSIONS

HRDS-induced goat MFD resulted from the downregulation of genes involved in lipogenesis, particularly, . Specifically, even though the total starch content and the concentrate-to-fiber ratio were the same as those of the high-RDS diet, the low and medium RDS diets did not cause MFD in lactating goats.