Nutritional regulation of mammary lipogenesis in sheep
Supplementation of dairy ewe diet with marine lipids (e.g., marine algae) allows to modulate fatty acid profile in milk and to improve its health‐promoting properties for consumers. However, this feeding strategy also exerts negative effects on animal performance, resulting in milk fat depression (MFD). Thus, an improved understanding of the MFD syndrome, through a better knowledge on molecular mechanisms underlying nutritional regulation of mammary lipogenesis, may be of great relevance to tackle the problem.
This research project proposes two specific aims:
1) To investigate potential diet‐induced changes in the expression of candidate genes involved in mammary lipogenesis and
2) To study the contribution of the mechanisms regulating milk fat fluidity during marine lipid‐induced MFD. The experimental trials will be performed in vivo with lactating sheep.
Achieving these goals would make it possible to establish a framework to enhance health‐promoting properties of ovine milk fat without impairing animal performance, which is a key objective for the agri‐food sector (particularly for livestock farming). Moreover, it would generate very valuable and novel scientific information due to its scarcity not only in sheep but also in other ruminant species.
FUNDING BODY and PROJECT REFERENCE
Council of Castilla y León CSI023U13
START and END DATE
2013‐2016
PARTICIPATING ENTITIES
Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (Mountain Livestock Farming Institute, IGM). Spanish National
Research Council (CSIC) and University of Leon (ULE).
Industrias de Nutrición Animal, Ltd. (Industries of Animal Nutrition, Ltd., INATEGA)
MEMBERS OF THE RESEARCH TEAM
Dr. Pilar de Frutos (Scientific researcher. CSIC). Principal investigator.
Dr. J. Javier Amor (R+D+i Responsible/Ruminant technician – INATEGA)
Dr. Álvaro Belenguer (Tenured scientist. CSIC)
MSc. David Carreño (PhD student. MINECO)
Dr. Jesús S. González (Professor. ULE)
Dr. Pablo G. Toral (Researcher ‐ Juan de la Cierva programme)
Dr. Gonzalo Hervás (Tenured scientist. CSIC)
