PSV-16 Effects of dietary coated omega-3 supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fatty acid composition in lactating sows and suckling piglets

Abstract

Improving sow nutrition is one approach that could produce such potential increases. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are critical nutrients that play an important role in maintaining animal health with better physiological condition. This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary coated omega-3 supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles, and fatty acid composition in lactating sows and suckling piglets. A total of 16 lactating sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their litters were used in a 26-day experiment. Sows were randomly allotted into two groups: (i) CON (Basal diet); (ii) TRT1 (Basal diet + 0.50% omega-3). In the current study, the supplementation of coated omega-3 increased piglet’s body weight (day 7) (P = 0.045) and average daily gain (day 0 to day 7) (P = 0.006) significantly compared with control. There was a significant effect (P = 0.048) on the blood fatty acid contents of sows fed coated omega-3 FA at weaning. In addition, the milk fatty acid contents (C16, C17 and C18) from sows fed diet supplemented with coated omega-3 FA were higher than those fed control diet on day 16. In conclusion, omega-3 diets improved BW and ADG of suckling piglets during the first week. It also improved the fatty acid content of blood and milk in lactating sows.