Effect of type and timing of oil supplements to sows during pregnancy on the growth performance and endocrine profile of low and normal birth weight offspring

Abstract

Eighty-eight multiparous sows were used to evaluate whether type and timing of oil supplementation during gestation influences the incidence of low birth weight (LBW). Sows were allocated (eight per treatment) commercial sow pellets (3 kg/d; control diet) or an experimental diet consisting of control diet plus 10 % extra energy in the form of excess pellets, palm oil, olive oil (OO), sunflower oil (SO) or fish oil; experimental diets were fed during either the first half (G1) or second half (G2) of gestation. Growth performance and endocrine profile of LBW (, 1·09 kg) and normal birth weight (NBW; 1·46 -1·64 kg) offspring were compared. Maternal dietary supplementation altered the distribution curve for piglet birth weight. SOG1 sows had a greater proportion of LBW piglets (P, 0·05), whilst it was reduced in the OOG1 group (P,0·05). Growth rate of LBW piglets was lower compared with their NBW siblings (P,0·05) when dietary supplementation was offered in G2 but were similar for G1. At birth, LBW offspring of supplemented animals possessed more fat compared with the control group (P,0·05); LBW offspring of control animals exhibited a more rapid decline in fat free mass/kg prior to weaning. Plasma metabolites and insulin concentrations were influenced by maternal diet and birth weight. In conclusion, maternal dietary supplementation altered the distribution of piglet birth weights and improved the energy status of LBW piglets. Supplementation with MUFA during G1 reduced the incidence of LBW, whereas PUFA had the reverse effect.Birth weight: Piglet growth: Body composition: OilIn the UK, mortality of live born piglets is approximately 11 % (1) with over 50 % of deaths occurring within 3 d of birth (2,3) . Many factors influence piglet mortality (4)

Fish Oil and Olive Oil Supplementation in Late Pregnancy and Lactation Differentially Affect Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Sows and Piglets

“…This study demonstrated that piglet birth weight was increased in response to maternal OO supplementation, which was consistent with the findings of Laws et al [25], who reported that feeding OO to sows during the first half of gestation resulted in a lower percentage of low birth weight piglets. A possible explanation for this result was that OOfed sows had a lower back fat thickness gain in late gestation compared with CON-fed and FO-fed sows.…”

Fatty Acid Composition of the Maternal Diet During the First or the Second Half of Gestation Influences the Fatty Acid Composition of Sows' Milk and Plasma, and Plasma of Their Piglets

“…Due to the similarities in the fatty acid metabolism in human and pigs [21] and in order to test our hypothesis, this study aimed to determine the consequences of modifying the fatty acid composition of sows' diets, using dietary supplements with olive oil (OO) or fish oil (FO), during the first or the second half of gestation on the fatty acid profiles of maternal plasma and milk during lactation and in plasma of suckling neonates. The present study is a continuation of previous ones using the same treatment protocol in pregnant sows where it was found that with the exception of a slightly improved growth performance in offspring of FO fed sows, no difference was found in reproductive performance between the two groups [22][23][24][25].…”

Porcine models for the metabolic syndrome, digestive and bone disorders: a general overview

“…This growth spurt is accompanied by subcutaneous lipid accumulation and research shows that the fatty acid profile of the nutrients supplied to the developing piglet postnatally can influence the fatty acid profile of the brain and other tissues (Amusquivar et al, 2008;Hyde et al, 2008). Hence, the piglet is an excellent model for the studies on fatty acid metabolism during the perinatal period (Purvis et al, 1982;Laws et al, 2009).…”