Abstract
Three experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of sunflower oil (SFO) supplementation on; 1) nutrients digestibility (Exp.1), 2) in vitro degradation kinetics of organic matter and fibre fractions (Exp. 2); and 3) milk composition and fatty acids profile in milk fat of dairy camels (Exp.3). Experimental diets were basal diet (SF-0), basal diet with 2% SFO (SF-2) and basal diet with 4% SFO (SF-4). In the digestibility trial (Exp.1), dry matter intake (DMI) and digestibility of NDF, ADF and N decreased (P < 0.05) in camel fed SF-4, but not with SF-2. Adding SFO at the level of 4% of DM negatively affected (P < 0.05) ruminally degradable fraction and degradation rate of OM, NDF and ADF of the experimental diets. No significant differences were detected on DMI and milk composition for either SF-2 or SF-4 (Exp.3). The provision of SF-2 and SF-4 to dairy camel had no effect (P > 0.05) on the concentrations of capric acid (C10:0) and lauric acid (C12:0) of milk fat. Myristic (C14:0) and palmitic acid (C16:0) contents of milk fat of animals fed added-oil diets (i.e., SF-2 and SF-4) were lower (P < 0.05) compared with control diet. The concentrations of total short and medium chain (i.e. C10:0 to C16:0) FA were reduced compared with control by 16% and 27% with SF-2 and SF-4, respectively. A positive response was observed for cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in milk fat, which increased (P < 0.05) by about 5 folds in animals fed SF-2 compared to SF-0. However, no difference was found between SF-0 and SF-4 in this respect. Total CLA isomers of milk fat were higher (P < 0.05) in SF-2 than in other treatments, since the values were 0.94, 3.80 and 0.60 g/100 g fat for, SF-0, SF-2 and SF-4, respectively. In conclusion, CLA content of dairy camel's milk could be increased by the addition of SFO at the level of 2% of DM of the diet with no negative effect on nutrients digestibility and daily milk production.