Performance, colostrum and milk fatty acid profile in sows fed divergent ω-6:ω-3 fatty acids ratios

Dietary ω-6 and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) influence animal health and performance because they regulate inflammatory and immunomodulatory processes. We tested the hypothesis that decreasing the dietary ω6:ω3 ratio during gestation and lactation sows will improve reproductive performance and the FA profile in colostrum and milk. Sixteen multiparous sows were allotted to two treatments in a completely randomised design from d 28 of gestation onwards. Treatments consisted of dietary ω-6:ω-3 PUFA ratios of 13:1 (HR) and 4:1 (LR) by adding soybean and linseed oils at different amounts to the basal isocaloric diet. Body weight (BW) of sows was measured at d 28, 79 and 108 of gestation and d 26 of lactation. Data were analysed by analysis of variance using the GLM procedures of SAS. The LR increased (P<0.05) BW gain of sows from d 79 to 108 of gestation, the survival rate of piglets at weaning and litter weight gain from d 14 to 26 and from d 0 to 26, compared to HR. Colostrum and milk collected at d 0 (farrowing), d 7 and 26 of lactation showed higher (P<0.05) level of total ω3, C18:3 ω3, C20:3 ω3, C20:5 ω3, C22:6 ω3, and lower (P<0.05) ω6:ω3 ratio in sows fed LR diet. We conclude that decreasing ω6:ω3 ratio in gestation and lactation diets of sow improves reproductive performance and the FA profile in colostrum and milk.