The inclusion of a daisy plant (Chrysanthemum coronarium) in dairy sheep diet. 1: Effect on milk and cheese fatty acid composition with particular reference to C18:2 cis-9, trans-11

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect on milk and cheese fatty acid composition of the inclusion of Chrysanthemum coronarium L., (Asteracea) into dairy sheep diet. Plots sown either with a binary mixture consisting of Lolium rigidum Gaudin and Medicago polymorpha (LM) or a ternary mixture including the above species and C. coronarium were (LMC) grazed by groups of Sarda dairy ewes during May. The botanical composition of diet, as measured by n-alkane method, showed that 34% of LMC group diet consisted of Chrysanthemum flowers and leaves. Exposure of sheep to this non-conventional forage did not affect animal performance and milk composition (fat and casein, P > 0.05) but resulted in different milk and cheese fatty acid composition. In particular conjugated linoleic acid, vaccenic acid and linoleic acid were all higher in LMC than LM groups (P < 0.05). The probable main reason was the higher proportion of linoleic acid in Chrysanthemum forage and hence in LMC than LM diet.