Journal of Animal Science, Vol 71, Issue 7 1841-1847, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Enrichment of omega-3 fatty acids in suckling pigs by maternal dietary fish oil supplementation

K. L. Fritsche, S. C. Huang and N. A. Cassity
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211.

This study was designed to determine whether substituting menhaden fish oil (FO) for lard (LA) in a practical sow diet was a suitable method for enriching newborn pigs with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). On d 107 of gestation, 18 crossbred sows were randomly allotted to one of three experimental diets, in which FO was substituted for LA at 0, 3.5, and 7% of the diet. On d 1, 7, 14, and 21 after farrowing samples of milk and serum from the sows and pig serum were collected for fatty acid analysis. The content of n-3 PUFA in the serum of sows fed FO increased six-fold over that in serum of LA-fed sows P < .0001). Feeding FO decreased the levels of arachidonic acid in maternal serum by approximately 50% (P < .0001). Similar changes were reflected in the fatty acid profiles of sow's milk. Pig serum n-3 PUFA levels were elevated over 5- and 10-fold within 24 h of birth in those litters born to sows fed 3.5 and 7% fish oil, respectively. Eicosapentaenoic acid levels in pig serum increased linearly (P < .01) during the first 2 wk postnatally in pigs suckling FO-feds sows and accounted for as much as 12% of the total fatty acids present on d 21. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that feeding FO to sows during late gestation and lactation enriches the newborn pig with n-3 PUFA.

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