Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids in diets fed to sows on fatty acids in brain, muscle and skin of their piglets

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine fatty acid profiles in piglet brain, skin, and muscle, and in the milk of sows fed fat with different saturation grades during gestation and lactation. At 42 days of gestation, 50 multiparous sows were randomly allocated to one of two treatments, namely a diet containing pork lard (n = 25) and a diet containing soybean oil (n = 25). The fats were provided at 3.6% during gestation and at 4% during lactation. The experimental diets were offered through the weaning of the piglets. The fatty acid profile of the milk was determined fourteen days after parturition. At weaning (21 days postpartum) and seven days later, one of the piglets (n = 64) from 16 sows allocated to each treatment was selected at random to determine fatty acid profiles in brain, skin and muscle. Saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were higher in the diet with pork lard than in that with soybean oil, in which the polyunsaturated fat content was higher. A higher saturation of fatty acids was found in milk from the sows that consumed pork lard, which contained more saturated fatty acids than the milk from sows that consumed soybean oil. The fatty acid profiles in muscle and skin of the piglets were affected by the diet of the sows. However, the fatty acid profile of the piglets’ brains was not affected by the diet of their mothers.
 Keywords: fat saturation, lard, piglet survival, sow feeding, soybean oil

Role of functional fatty acids in modulation of reproductive potential in livestock

“…In livestock production, changing the fatty acid composition of diet has been found to impact the lipid composition of milk and the milk yield [ 192 – 198 ]. Adding functional fatty acids to the diet of maternal livestock can influence the fatty acid composition of young livestock, which is a desired outcome [ 199 , 200 ], and help boost neurodevelopment, immunology and intestinal protection [ 60 , 201 – 205 ]. Fatty acids in sows and dairy cows during the lactation period have been extensively studied recently.…”

“…Adding functional fatty acids to the diet of maternal livestock can influence the fatty acid composition of young livestock, which is a desired outcome [199,200], and help boost neurodevelopment, immunology and intestinal protection [60,[201][202][203][204][205]. Fatty acids in sows and dairy cows during the lactation period have been extensively studied recently.…”