Elaheh Jahanian, Hojjat Asadollahpour Nanaei and Nasroallah Moradi Kor
In this review article, the effect of dietary fat and fatty acids on reproductive performance of ruminants has been discussed. Fat supplementation affects several organs involved in reproduction such as hypothalamus, anterior pituitary, ovary and uterus. Dietary inclusion of fat could improve reproductive performance either through energy supply or the impact on reproduction procedures. The efficacies of dietary fat on reproduction depend on fatty acid types especially polyunsaturated fatty acids. Dietary supplementation of fats and fatty acids has caused an improvement in cell membrane fluidity, an increase in follicle numbers and diameter, an improvement in oocyte and embryo quality as well as an increase in hormone secretion including estrogen, progesterone and growth factor. Furthermore, inclusion of fat could increase gene expression involved in reproduction. In general, the results indicated that dietary fat could lead to improved in reproductive performance of ruminants.
