Fat supplementation to the gestation diet of older sows and its effect on maternal and fetal fat metabolism

Abstract

Summary ― Sows that had had 3 previous litters were fed either a diet with no added fat (low fat) which was rich in linoleic acid (56.7% 18:2n-6), or a high fat diet containing lard, high in total saturates (28.9%) and oleic acid (37.8% 18:1 n-9) during gestation. Backfat build-up in the sows on the high fat diet was accelerated compared to the low fat group. On day 110 of gestation, fetuses were removed. The fat content of the diet had no significant effect on sow weight gain during gestation, and the number or body weight of fetuses. Activities of sow liver and adipose and fetal liver malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-P) and acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACoABx)