Supplementation of ruminant diets with oils derived from plants has proved to be a good strategy for enhancing desirable milk fatty acids (FA) profile and improving yield. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of inclusion of milk thistle oil in dairy ewes’ rations, on animal performance and milk fatty acid composition. A total of 20 Greek mountain ewes, in second lactation, were allocated into two treatments. Treatments were 1) concentrate diet (control – CON) and 2) concentrate diet supplemented with 3 % (w/w) milk thistle oil (MTSO). Individual monthly milk samples were collected throughout the lactation period of the animals to determine the milk chemical composition and fatty acid profile. Supplementation with MTSO resulted in significantly higher milk yield (576.8 g vs 439.0 g for the CON group) (P < 0.05) and did not affect fat content. Regarding milk fatty acid composition, ewes on the MTSO treatment produced milk with significantly increased concentration of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FA, improving the nutritional value of milk. Major changes were observed in milk FA profile due to oil supplementation. Milk thistle oil significantly decreased concentration of saturated FA (SFA). Milk in ewes receiving the MTSO supplement showed an increase in milk conjugated linoleic acid (C18:2 cis-9,trans-11) concentration. In conclusion, both milk quantity and quality were favourably affected by MTSO, suggesting that dietary MTSO could serve as a practical means to modify milk composition while improving its nutritional value.

在反刍动物饲料中添加植物油已被证明是增强理想乳脂肪酸 (FA) 分布和提高产量的好策略。本研究的目的是确定在奶牛日粮中添加奶蓟油对动物生产性能和乳脂肪酸组成的影响。总共 20 只希腊山地母羊，在第二次哺乳期，被分配到两个处理中。处理为 1) 浓缩日粮（对照 – CON）和 2) 浓缩日粮补充 3% (w/w) 奶蓟油 (MTSO)。在动物的整个哺乳期收集单独的每月牛奶样品以确定牛奶化学成分和脂肪酸谱。补充 MTSO 可显着提高产奶量（CON 组为 576.8 g 对 439.0 g）（P < 0. 05）并且不影响脂肪含量。在牛奶脂肪酸组成方面，经过MTSO处理的母羊生产的牛奶中单不饱和脂肪酸和多不饱和脂肪酸的浓度显着增加，提高了牛奶的营养价值。由于油的补充，在牛奶 FA 谱中观察到了重大变化。奶蓟油显着降低饱和脂肪酸 (SFA) 的浓度。接受 MTSO 补充剂的母羊的牛奶显示牛奶共轭亚油酸 (C18:2 奶蓟油显着降低饱和脂肪酸 (SFA) 的浓度。接受 MTSO 补充剂的母羊的牛奶显示牛奶共轭亚油酸 (C18:2 奶蓟油显着降低饱和脂肪酸 (SFA) 的浓度。接受 MTSO 补充剂的母羊的牛奶显示牛奶共轭亚油酸 (C18:2cis-9,trans-11 ) 浓度。总之，MTSO 对牛奶的数量和质量都有有利的影响，这表明膳食 MTSO 可以作为改变牛奶成分同时提高其营养价值的实用手段。