Title: Supplementing gestation diets with omega-3
1Supplementing gestation diets with omega-3
2Omega 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
3Omega 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
4Omega-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)
5Mechanism
- 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
6Evidence from commercial studies
Methodology Mixed parity 2-9 Fed during
lactation (18d to weaning) Smits et al, (2011)
7Evidence 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al, (unpublished)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
8Combining lactation and early gestation omega-3
supplementation
Methodology Commercial piggery , parity 1-7
sows, 850 sows
9Mixed 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
10Treatment x parity
Improvements in older parities
Smits et al. 2011
11PUFA plasma 12d gestation
12Farrowing rate
Treatment effect NS
13Omega-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
14Gilt studies
Treatment response NS
Smits et al. 2012
15Gilt studies
Treatment response P lt0.100 0 vs 3 g/kg P lt0.05
Smits et al. 2012
16Summary 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
17Summary 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
18Supplementing gestation diets with omega-3 to
reduce lameness
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
19Results - 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
20Results 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
21Omega-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)
22Take-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
23Thank you to the Pork CRC and Rivalea for funding
and support during the project and my PhD