Abstract
Simple SummarySubstituting soya oil with salmon oil in lactation diets improved sow milk yield and litter gain during the suckling period. Additionally, salmon oil tended to reduce pre-weaning mortality; therefore, its use in lactation diets should be further investigated. A phased dietary energy regimen increased sow lactation energy intake, but sow body condition and piglet growth performance to weaning were not improved.This study investigated the effect of salmon oil in lactating sow diets and offering these diets in a phased dietary regimen to increase the energy density of the diet in late lactation. Sow and piglet productivity to weaning, the fatty acid profile of milk, piglet blood and tissues at weaning were the main parameters measured. Multiparous sows (n = 100) (Landrace × Large White) were offered dietary treatments from day 105 of gestation until weaning. Dietary treatments (2 × 2 factorial) included oil type (soya or salmon oil) and dietary regimen (Flat 14.5 MJ/kg DE diet offered until weaning or Phased 14.5 MJ/kg DE diet offered to day 14 of lactation then a second diet containing 15.5 MJ/kg DE offered from day 15 until weaning). Salmon oil inclusion increased the total proportion of n-3 fatty acids in colostrum (p < 0.001), milk (p < 0.001), piglet plasma (p < 0.01), adipose (p < 0.001), liver (p < 0.001) and muscle (p < 0.001). Increasing sow dietary energy level in late lactation increased the total n-3 fatty acids in milk (p < 0.001), piglet adipose (p < 0.01) and piglet muscle (p < 0.05). However, piglet growth to weaning did not improve.
Highlights
As the global demand for pork continues to rise, increasing the number of piglets weaned per litter at a good weaning weight represents a key challenge
It is proposed that the key driver for the interactive effects seen in this study with regard to n-6 fatty acids was due to a change in energy balance causing sows offered the soya oil diet to mobilise body reserves and change the proportion of fatty acids seen in samples as the proportion of fatty acids in soya oil diets were similar irrespective of oil inclusion level
In agreement with the findings of Lauridsen and Danielsen [8], this study found that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were greater in milk from sows fed salmon oil, reducing the overall ratio of n6:n3 fatty acids
Summary
As the global demand for pork continues to rise, increasing the number of piglets weaned per litter at a good weaning weight represents a key challenge. Sow milk yield is a limiting factor for the growth of nursing piglets [2]. The amount of milk needed for 1 g of live-weight gain increases as lactation progresses as the energy requirement for maintenance of piglets increases, with 317, 531 and 582 g/day of milk needed to maintain piglet live-weight in weeks 1, 2 and 3, respectively [3]. A dietary digestible energy density of 14.05 MJ/kg DE is recommended for lactating sows of parity 2 and above with a litter size of 11.5 and a litter average daily gain of 190–270 g/day [4]. The average litter size in the European Union is currently
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
