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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Changes in ewe milk fatty acids following turning out to pasture

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Abstract Ten Comisana dairy ewes were selected to observe time of changing in milk fatty acids as a result of switching from stall to pasture feeding. At first, ewes were subjected to a stall-feeding period of 30 days (pre-experimental phase). After which, ewes were abruptly turned out to a vetch and oats pasture as their sole feed (experimental phase). Individual milk samples were collected on experimental days 0 (the last day of stall feeding), 1–4, 8, 11, 17 and 23. Milk and feeds fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography. The sudden passage from a stall to a pasture diet significantly modified the fatty acid profile of ewe milk. Medium- and long-chain fatty acids were particularly affected by the feeding system change. Myristic (C 14:0 ) and palmitic (C 16:0 ) acids significantly ( P 14:1 ) and palmitoleic (C 16:1 ) acids also decreased ( P 18:1 trans -11) increased ( P 18:2 cis n  − 6) decreased ( P 18:3 cis n  − 3), at the third day following transition to pasture, reached a value three times higher ( P 18:2 cis -9, trans -11) increased ( P n  − 6/ n  − 3 and C 14:1 /C 14:0 were reduced ( P The main variations in fatty acid percentages had already occurred between the second and the third day after transition to pasture. Our results confirm that pasture could be a simple feeding strategy to naturally manipulate ewe milk nutritional characteristics.