Rastello Lara, Gasco Laura, Coppa Mauro, Gerbelle Mathieu, Colombini Stefania, Battelli Marco, Badino Paola, Vernetti-Prot Luca, Toral Pablo G, Brugiapaglia Alberto, Gardini Giulia, Malfatto Vanda, Constant Isabelle, Galli Alessandro, Trespeuch Christophe, Renna Manuela
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, Grugliasco, TO, 10095, Italy.
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, Grugliasco, TO, 10095, Italy.
J Anim Sci Biotechnol. 2025 Jun 26;16(1):90. doi: 10.1186/s40104-025-01222-9.
Scant information is currently available on the use of insect oils in ruminant diets. Insect oils could be used as alternatives to certain conventional plant lipid sources that are considered no longer sustainable. This trial aims at evaluating the effects of the dietary inclusion of Hermetia illucens oil (HIO) vs. hydrogenated palm fat (HPF) on digestive parameters, oxidative stress, and milk production performance of dairy cows.
Twenty-six Valdostana Red Pied cows were randomly divided into two groups and fed with hay ad libitum and a concentrate containing 3% (as fed) of either HPF or HIO. The trial lasted 50 d, including two weeks of diet adaptation. Individual feed intake and milk yield were monitored three and four times a week, respectively. Fecal samples were collected at the end (d 50) of the trial to determine total-tract nutrients apparent digestibility. Individual blood samples were collected to evaluate blood plasma metabolites (d 0 and d 50) and oxidative stress parameters (d 0, d 26 and d 50). Milk samples were collected at d 0, d 14, d 26, d 38 and d 50 for chemical composition analysis. Feed efficiency was estimated through feed conversion ratio and residual feed intake (RFI). Data were analyzed by SAS software using a mixed model. The diet had no effect on nutrients intake and apparent total-tract digestibility. However, the dietary inclusion of HIO led to higher milk production (+ 0.82 kg/cow/d; P < 0.05) and slightly lower RFI (-0.008; P < 0.001) when compared to the HPF diet. Milk composition and the nutritional metabolic status of the cows remained unaffected by diet. Serum antioxidant capacity was comparable between the two groups, while lower derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolite concentrations were observed in the HIO-fed cows when compared to the HPF-fed ones (-37.13 Carratelli Units; P < 0.001).
The dietary inclusion of HIO instead of HPF did not negatively affect feed palatability and total-tract apparent digestibility of nutrients in dairy cows. Furthermore, it increased feed efficiency by supporting a higher milk production together with an improved antioxidant status. The results suggest that HIO could be an eligible option as an innovative energy source for dairy cows.
目前关于反刍动物日粮中使用昆虫油的信息很少。昆虫油可作为某些被认为不再可持续的传统植物脂质来源的替代品。本试验旨在评估日粮中添加黑水虻油（HIO）与氢化棕榈脂肪（HPF）对奶牛消化参数、氧化应激和产奶性能的影响。
26头瓦尔多斯塔纳红白花奶牛被随机分为两组，自由采食干草，并分别饲喂含有3%（按饲喂量计）HPF或HIO的精料。试验持续50天，包括两周的日粮适应期。分别每周监测三次个体采食量和四次产奶量。在试验结束时（第50天）采集粪便样本以测定全消化道养分表观消化率。采集个体血样以评估血浆代谢物（第0天和第50天）和氧化应激参数（第0天、第26天和第50天）。在第0天、第14天、第26天、第38天和第50天采集牛奶样本进行化学成分分析。通过饲料转化率和剩余采食量（RFI）估算饲料效率。使用混合模型通过SAS软件分析数据。日粮对养分摄入量和全消化道表观消化率没有影响。然而，与HPF日粮相比，日粮中添加HIO可提高产奶量（+0.82千克/头/天；P<0.05），并使RFI略有降低（-0.008；P<0.001）。奶牛的牛奶成分和营养代谢状况不受日粮影响。两组之间的血清抗氧化能力相当，而与饲喂HPF的奶牛相比，饲喂HIO的奶牛中活性氧代谢物浓度的较低衍生物含量更低（-37.13卡拉泰利单位；P<0.001）。
日粮中添加HIO而非HPF不会对奶牛的饲料适口性和全消化道养分表观消化率产生负面影响。此外，它通过支持更高的产奶量和改善抗氧化状态提高了饲料效率。结果表明，HIO可能是奶牛一种合适的创新能量来源选择。
