PSX-21 Maternal dietary supplementation of fatty acids during late gestation on offspring’s growth, carcass characteristics and energy metabolism in sheep

Abstract

Abstract Our objective was to evaluate the effect of different sources of fatty acids (FA) fed to ewes during late gestation on offspring growth, carcass characteristics (CC), and glucose and insulin metabolism [via glucose tolerance test (GTT)]. Fifty-four ewes (n = 18/treatment) were blocked by age, and BW; and within each block randomly assigned to one of three treatments fed from day 100 gestation until lambing. Treatments were: 1) no FA supplementation (CONT); or supplemented with 1% of lipid-enrich diet in 2) monounsaturated FA (MUFA); or 3) polyunsaturated FA (PUFA). At birth, all ewes and lambs were placed in a common pen and feed a common diet. At 60 days of age, lambs were weaned (d0), blocked by weight, and placed (3 lambs/pen; 6 pen/treatment; 3 pens of each sex) in a common diet until d56. Weight was measured on d0, d28, and d54; feed intake (FI) was measured daily. One lamb/pen was used on a GTT on d55, and another lamb/pen was used to determine CC (d56). Offspring data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design with a 2x2 factorial arrangement (FA*Sex; SAS 9.4). Treatments did not affect (P > 0.1) offspring FI, neither plasma glucose concentration (GTT). There was a FA*Sex interaction (P < 0. 05) for insulin. Males’ plasma insulin concentration increased as FA unsaturation degree increased during the GTT, the opposite happened with females. There was an interaction of FA*Sex*Day (P < 0.05) on lamb growth. On d0 MUFA females were heavier than MUFA males, but PUFA males were heavier than PUFA females; these differences disappeared at d28. Lambs born from PUFA had a heavier (P < 0. 05) hot carcass weight. In conclusion, dam’s FA supplementation modified offspring growth, insulin sensitivity, and HCW; these changes depended on the supplement FA unsaturation degree and offspring sex.