Supplementing gestation diets with omega-3

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Supplementing gestation diets with omega-3

• Research Outcomes

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Omega 3 PUFA for gilts and sows

• How Omega-3s affect reproduction
• Outcomes from lactating sows
• Outcomes in gilts
• Outcomes from studies on lameness and sow
  turnover
• Recommendations

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Omega 3 fatty acids why are they important?

• All animals require some intake of fats for
  cellular function
• Fats used for

• Energy
• Fat soluble vitamin source (Vit. A and E),
  sources of retinol, B-carotene and ?-tocopherol
  antioxidants
• Cell membrane component
• Synthesis of prostaglandins and a reproductive
  role
• Formation of compounds associated with
  inflammatory responses, immune function and
  general health

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Omega-3 in gilts and sows

• Palmer (1970) reported increase in litter size in
  first and second litter size by feeding sows
  fishmeal
• Following studies using fish oil showed
  supporting evidence (Perez-Rigau et al, 1995
  Webel et al, 2004 Spencer et al 2004) while
  others found no response (Rooke et al, 2001
  Estienne et al 2006) in reproductive performance
• Embryos and endometrium develop with high levels
  of EPA and DHA by day 19 when gilts fed dietary
  omega 3 PUFAs (Brazle et al 2009)
• The pig oocyte and follicular fluid contains
  relatively high levels of long chain PUFAs
  compared to other mammals (Homa et al, 1986
  Khandoker et al, 1997)

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Mechanism

• Litter size improved by higher embryo survival
• Ovulation rate unaffected
• Increases follicle size and oocyte developmental
  competence (better quality oocyte for
  fertilization)
• May affect the prostaglandins that support
  maternal recognition and implantation (PGE -
  luteotrophic) and reduce those that try and stop
  pregnancy (PGF - luteolytic).
• Acts in an anti-inflammatory capacity to reduce
  symptoms of lameness

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Evidence from commercial studies
Methodology Mixed parity 2-9 Fed during
lactation (18d to weaning) Smits et al, (2011)
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Evidence from commercial studies
Methodology Mixed parity 5-8 Fed during
lactation (27 d) and through to mating Smits et
al, (unpublished)
Embryo 13.6 v 15.5, P lt 0.06 Ovulation rate,
NS ES 61.5 v 70.0, P lt 0.06
n51
n57
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Combining lactation and early gestation omega-3
supplementation
Methodology Commercial piggery , parity 1-7
sows, 850 sows
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Mixed parity lactation vs early gestation
Total born omega-3 effect P 0.041 Live born
omega-3 effect P 0.100
n173
Smits et al. 2011
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Treatment x parity
Improvements in older parities
Smits et al. 2011
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PUFA plasma 12d gestation
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Farrowing rate
Treatment effect NS
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Omega-3 in gilts

• Studies evaluated response to feeding
  supplemented gilt developer diets
• Feeding for 3 or 6 weeks before mating on litter
  size and farrowing rate
• Second study fed supplemented diets before mating
  and early (4 weeks) pregnancy
• Dose response 0, 3 and 10 g fish oil/kg

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Gilt studies
Treatment response NS
Smits et al. 2012
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Gilt studies
Treatment response P lt0.100 0 vs 3 g/kg P lt0.05
Smits et al. 2012
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Summary of omega-3 for improved fertility

• Sows
• Feeding supplemented diets during lactation and
  up to mating
• Increased litter size in older parities, no
  effect on farrowing rate
• Feeding supplemented diets during early pregnancy
• Increased litter size in older parities, no
  effect on farrowing rate
• Feeding both in lactation and early pregnancy
• Increased litter size overall (0.5 BA), no
  effect on farrowing rate
• Replacing tallow with 3 g/kg (0.3) fish oil
  increased EPA and DHA by 6-7-fold
• Reducing n-6n-3 ratio from 12.5 to 7.5 improved
  litter size and ES

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Summary of omega-3 for improved fertility

• GILTS
• Feeding supplemented diets during puberty up to
  mating
• no significant benefit on litter size or
  farrowing rate
• Feeding supplemented diets during puberty and
  early pregnancy
• increase in embryo survival
• Feeding 3 g/kg v 10 g/kg fish oil during puberty
  and early pregnancy
• Maximal response at 3 g/kg
• No treatment effect on farrowing rate
• Small increase age at mating
• 217 d (Omega-3) v 213 d Control

Smits et al. 2012
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Supplementing gestation diets with omega-3 to
reduce lameness

• Experimental design

2,000 mated gilts Day 2
Omega-3 diet 6 g/kg fish oil 15 g fish oil/d
Gilt gestation
Control diet 0 g/kg fish oil
Omega-3 diet 3 g/kg fish oil 18 g fish oil/d
Gilt lactation
Control diet 0 g/kg fish oil
Post-weaning
Control diet 0 g/kg fish oil
Parity 1 gestation
Omega-3 diet 6 g/kg fish oil 15 g fish oil/d
Parity 1 lactation
Assessment of sow retention
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Results - Reproductive
Treatment Gilt farrow rate () Gilt live born Parity 1 farrow rate () Parity 1 subs live born Retention over two parities ( of mated gilts)
Control 90.8 10.8 84.0 12.1 72.6
Fish oil - 3g/kg 91.6 10.8 84.4 12.2 75.8
Significance NS NS NS NS P0.137
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Results Sow removal
Treatment Re-bred after parity 1 weaning () Mortality () Locomotion culls () All Physical removal ()
Control 91.3 1.2 5.2 6.2
Fish oil - 3g/kg 93.1 0.4 2.8 3.3
Significance NS P0.09 P 0.011 P 0.004
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Omega-3 and sow retention

• Omega-3 supplements reduced sow wastage due to
  lower destructions and culling for lameness
• No effect on parity 1 (gilt) litter size when
  fed from d 2 post-mating
• No increase in parity 2 litter size , though high
  baseline due to parity 1 skip-a-heat)

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Take-Home recommendations

• Supplementing diets with low levels of fish oil
  can increase litter size
• Evidence of improved physical fitness with
  prolonged supplementation
• Aim for dietary n-6n-3 ratio of lt 9 in lactation
  and (early) gestation diets
• Recommended intake of DHA (226) EPA (205) of
  2.9 g/day
• Sourcing quality fish oil or other sources of
  long-chain omega-3 important, as is suitable
  antioxidants and vit E in feed preparation

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Thank you to the Pork CRC and Rivalea for funding
and support during the project and my PhD