Effects of preconditioning and extrusion of linseed on the ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids 1. In vivo studies

The extent and intermediates of ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) of fatty acids (FA) from a blend of linseed and wheat bran (70:30) were investigated in the rumen fluid, rumen particle phase and duodenal flow. The blend was ground through a 3 mm screen and used raw or extruded, or was ground through a 6 mm screen and preconditioned. Three dry Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design, with 18 days adaptation. The diet contained 20% (DM basis) of the linseed based blend. Twelve samples taken over 3 days were composited for analysis of rumen fluid, rumen particle phase and duodenal flow. The BH of FA from linseed resulted in the appearance of a great number of C18:1 intermediates, among which trans-10+11 to trans-16C18:1 were the most abundant. The proportion of cis-9,trans-11C18:2 was low. Preconditioning coarsely ground linseed resulted in a lower extent of C18:2 and C18:3 BH, and lower proportions of trans-12 to trans-16C18:1 intermediates than extrusion or a lack of processing of finely ground linseed. On the contrary, extrusion did not affect the extent of BH and had no significant effect on the proportions of trans-C18:1 intermediates, but increased the proportion of cis-9,trans-11C18:2 in both rumen phases. Different digesta types resulted in different estimates of BH. The extent of BH and the proportions of trans-C18:1 intermediates were lower in the rumen particle phase and higher in the rumen fluid than in the duodenum. Moreover, interactions between digesta type and treatment of linseed were observed