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
J Laws, JC Litten, A Laws, IJ Lean, PF Dodds and L Clarke. 2009, British Journal of Nutrition, 101: 240-249.
07-May-2009 (17 years 1 months ago)The aim of the present study was to determine the consequences of altering the fatty acid profile of a 10% dietary supplement, offered either during the first half or second half of pregnancy on the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) piglets and their subsequent growth and endocrine profiles. Eighty-eight sows were used. Sows were fed a commercial sow diets or an experimental diet that it was as the control ration plus 10% extra energy derived from excess pellets, palm oil (PO), olive oil (OO), sunflower oil (SO) or fish (salmon) oil (FO). The experimental diets were fed during either the first half (G1) (from days 0 to 60 of gestation) or second half (G2) (from day 60 of gestation until term at approximately day 115 of gestation).
Piglet growth performance was observed throughout the neonatal period, body weight, crown to rump length and body composition were recorded on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 of life. Individual piglet milk intake was assessed on days 3, 7, 14 and 21 of lactation. Urination and defecation by piglets during lactation was also recorded. Blood samples were obtained on days 3 and 21 of life to analyze plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin, insulin-like growth factor, thyroid hormones, glucose and NEFA. Growth performance and endocrine profile of LBW (<1.09 kg) and normal birth weight (NBW; 1.46-1.64 kg) piglets were compared.
It was observed that the percentage of piglets born alive categorized as LBW was highest in the litters of SOG1 sows, and lowest in those animals of the group OOG1 (P<0.05). The dietary supplementation with OO or SO during G2 resulted in a decrease in the average birth weight (P<0.05). Growth rate of LBW piglets was lower compared with their NBW piglets (P<0.05) when dietary supplementation was offered during 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 animal exhibits more rapid decline in fat free mass/kg prior to weaning. Plasma metabolites and insulin concentrations were influenced by maternal diet and birth weight. It is concluded that maternal dietary supplementation altered the distribution of piglet birth weights and improved the energy status of LBW piglets, irrespective of the fatty acid profile or timing of the supplement.
Piglet growth performance was observed throughout the neonatal period, body weight, crown to rump length and body composition were recorded on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 of life. Individual piglet milk intake was assessed on days 3, 7, 14 and 21 of lactation. Urination and defecation by piglets during lactation was also recorded. Blood samples were obtained on days 3 and 21 of life to analyze plasma concentrations of leptin, insulin, insulin-like growth factor, thyroid hormones, glucose and NEFA. Growth performance and endocrine profile of LBW (<1.09 kg) and normal birth weight (NBW; 1.46-1.64 kg) piglets were compared.
It was observed that the percentage of piglets born alive categorized as LBW was highest in the litters of SOG1 sows, and lowest in those animals of the group OOG1 (P<0.05). The dietary supplementation with OO or SO during G2 resulted in a decrease in the average birth weight (P<0.05). Growth rate of LBW piglets was lower compared with their NBW piglets (P<0.05) when dietary supplementation was offered during 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 animal exhibits more rapid decline in fat free mass/kg prior to weaning. Plasma metabolites and insulin concentrations were influenced by maternal diet and birth weight. It is concluded that maternal dietary supplementation altered the distribution of piglet birth weights and improved the energy status of LBW piglets, irrespective of the fatty acid profile or timing of the supplement.