Interpretive Summary: Dietary inclusion of ruminally protected linseed oil as a means to mitigate heat and slaughter-induced stress in feedlot cattle

By: Irene Ceconi, Dario G. Pighin, Patricio Davies, Sebastián A. Cunzolo, Adriana Pazos, and Gabriela Grigioni

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) of diets have anti-inflammatory properties and mitigating effects on insulin resistance (IR) and stress in steers. This study evaluated the effect of n-3 PUFA supplementation to feedlot-finished steers during summer on animal performance, physiological and biochemical response, and meat quality. We found that n-3 PUFA supplementation mitigated metabolic alterations associated with IR and slaughter-related stress. It may have also improved tolerance to heat, resulting in greater dry matter intake, and average daily gain of steers fed a high-energy diet during summer.

Read the full article on the Journal of Animal Science.