Evaluation of dietary-coated omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on reproduction performance, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profiles in lactating sows and suckling piglets

Abstract

A total of 16 sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were used in a 33-d trial (7 d before expected parturition) to determine the effects of dietary-coated omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on reproduction performance, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profiles in lactating sows and suckling piglets. Pigs were randomly allotted into two treatments with eight replicates per treatment, and the parity was 4.9. The dietary treatments were as follows: CON, corn–soybean-meal-based diet [omega-6:omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratio of 17:1] and TRT, CON + 0.9% omega-3 PUFA (omega-6:omega-3 PUFA ratio of 5:1). The supplementation of coated omega-3 increased piglet’s body weight (BW) (day 7) and average daily gain (ADG) (days 0–7) (P < 0.05) from farrowing to weanling compared with control. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed on reproduction performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood profile in sows. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the dietary supplementation of 0.9% omega-3 PUFA in corn–soybean-meal-based diet (omega-6:omega3 PUFA ratio of 5:1) improved BW and ADG of suckling piglets during the first week.