Enhancing α-Tocopherol and Linoleic Acid in Ewe's Milk by Feeding Emulsified Sunflower Oil and dl-α-Tocopheryl Acetate in a Chemically Treated Protein Matrix

Chemically treated dietary supplements (CTDS) were prepared with defatted soy flour, sunflower oil, dl-α-tocopheryl acetate (TA), and 2,3-butanedione (a generally recognized as safe chemical), and the effects on α-tocopherol (VE) concentration and fatty acid profile in ewe's milk were estimated. Ewes fed control diet (CD) had the lowest levels of milk VE (0.66 μg/mL) and serum VE (1.59 μg/mL). Feeding ewes the CD plus 500 IU of TA increased milk and serum VE by 30 and 70%, respectively, compared to ewes fed the CD. The CTDS-fed ewes showed further increased milk and serum VE levels by 40 and 32%, respectively, over those in ewes fed the CD plus 500 IU of TA. Feeding ewes CTDS did not affect milk fat content (3.13%) but altered the fatty acid composition by decreasing the levels of hypercholesteremic fatty acids, while increasing the content of linoleic acid (8.5%). Inclusion of CTDS in ruminant diets might produce nutritionally enhanced milk products. Keywords: α-Tocopherol; α-tocopheryl acetate; ewe's milk; linoleic acid