title: Peripartal feeding strategy with different n-6: n-3 ratios in sows: effects on sows' performance, inflammatory and periparturient metabolic parameters.
abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of two lactation sow feeds, differing in n-6:n-3 ratio, given to sows before parturition on body condition and feed intake, periparturient metabolism (leptin, insulin, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)), inflammatory parameters (TNFalpha, IL-6, serum amyloid A (SAA)) and on piglet performance (birth weight, survivability). The feed contained either a low (supplemented with fish oil; f groups) or high (supplemented with sunflower-seed oil; s groups) n-6:n-3 ratio and was administered from 8 d (f8, s8) or 3 d (f3, s3) before parturition until weaning. The level of inclusion of the oil sources was 2 %. Seventy-two sows were randomly allocated 8 d before expected farrowing into four groups: f3, f8, s3, s8. Type of feed had a significant influence on the sows' feed intake during the first 2 d of lactation (s < f), leptin on days 4, 3 and 2 before parturition (f < s), insulin on day 1 after parturition (f < s), T4 on the day before parturition (s < f) and rectal temperature on the day after parturition (f < s). Onset of administration of the feed (3 v. 8 d) had significant effects on leptin on day 2 before parturition (8 < 3), insulin on day 4 before parturition (3 < 8), T3 on day 4 before parturition and on the day after parturition (3 < 8), SAA on day 3 after parturition (8 < 3) and piglet weight during the first days postpartum (3 < 8). In conclusion, under the present conditions, a lactation feed low in n-6:n-3 ratio administered from 8 d before farrowing ensures improved feed intake during the first days postpartum and was associated with a better metabolic change and inflammatory profile in sows in the periparturient period.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: Georgios A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: Dominiek G D
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Weyenberg
authors.forename: Theo A T G
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: van Kempen
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buyse
authors.forename: Geert P J
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Janssens
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D011897:Random Allocation; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin; D008079:Lipoproteins, VLDL; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha