A successful breeding season is key to the profitability of ranching operations. The estimated yearly costs of infertility, abortions/stillbirths, and other reproductive losses are estimated to cost the beef industry over $1 billion annually. Reproductive performance is a function of cow age, genetic background, health status, nutrition, management, and environmental factors. There is great interest in evaluating fatty acids for their roles in reproductive processes.
Impacts on Conception, Embryo Survival, and Semen Quality
Fatty acids are formed when dietary fats are broken down and absorbed into the bloodstream. They are composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen atoms that are bonded to each other. Polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs contain two or more carbon double bonds. There are two PUFAs considered to be essential to livestock, meaning they cannot be synthesized in the body and must be supplied in the diet. These include omega-6 fatty acids (linoleic acid, or LA) and omega-3 fatty acids (alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA).
Maintaining a proper balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is important for optimizing immune function and reproductive performance. Omega-6 fatty acids have been shown to increase the production of prostaglandin, an important reproductive hormone that helps drive estrous cycles and creates an opportunity for animals to become pregnant. However, elevated prostaglandin levels can contribute to early embryonic losses. Omega-3 fatty acids decrease prostaglandin and increase progesterone, which is a hormone necessary to establish and maintain pregnancy. Omega-3 fatty acids also create an anti-inflammatory response, helping the embryo implant into the uterine wall.
Elevating Omega-3 Levels Through Targeted Nutrition
SmartLic FlaxLic contains 15% fat and 7% omega-3 fatty acids primarily from flaxseed and flaxseed oil. FlaxLic holds U.S. Patents for elevating blood lipid levels in livestock. Research at Kansas State University showed that feeding FlaxLic resulted in a 15% increase in blood levels of eicosapentaenoic acid, a longer-chain fatty acid derived from ALA. It has been shown to improve ovarian function and enhance embryonic development.
Research indicates the potential for increased fertility rates from 10 to 20 percent due to decreased embryonic mortality and increased number and size of follicles with omega-3 supplementation. In addition, improvements in sperm motility and decreases in sperm abnormalities have been observed. The unique manufacturing process and nutrient profile of FlaxLic provides a high-quality source of omega 3’s designed to support optimal performance during the breeding season and beyond.
