Effects Of Supplementing Diets With Different Chain Lengths Of Fatty Acids During Late Pregnancy And Lactation On The Reproductive Performance Of Sows And Growth Performance Of Suckling Piglets

(Objective)Fatty acids not only serve as energy substances,but also have special functions of regulating metabolism,antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.The addition of fatty acids to the diet in sow can improve the feed intake by improving the flavor of the feed,Improve milk composition,effect the growth performance and gastrointestinal development of piglets.The experiments were conducted to study effect of dietary short chain fatty acids(sodium butyrate),medium-chain fatty acids and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation to sow during late gestation and lactation on reproductive performance of sows,growth performance and intestinal microbial flora of piglets.(Methods)Twenty-four sows(Yorkshire × Landrace,parities 3,weight 300 ±15 kg),with similar body condition and expected date of delivery,were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replicates and 1 pig per replicate.Control group were fed a basal diet,SCFA group were fed with a basal diet with addition of 1 g/kg coated sodium butyrate,MCFA group were fed with a basal diet with addition of 7.5 g/kg coated medium-chain fatty acids,n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids group were fed with a basal diet with addition of coated 68.2 g/kg n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.The experiments were carried out from day 85 of pregnancy to day 21 of lactation.During the experiment,recorded feed intake of sows,litter size and survival rate of piglets,gathered colostrum.At the end of the experiments,1 piglet was randomly selected from each litter to collect blood samples,After slaughtered,intestinal mucosa,liver,chyme and other samples were collected for analysising.(Results)The results showed as follows:(1)There were no significant differences in total number of piglets at born per litter,number of piglets born alive per litter,number of piglets born dead per litter,birth litter weight,and piglets weight at birth among treatments(P>0.05).Compared with control group,the survival rate of piglets at weaning in three experimental groups were improved,but did not reach the significant level(P>0.05),the highest survival rate of piglets were 91.3% in MCFA group;Compared with the control group,the delivery time of sows in MCFA group were shorted 37%(P<0.05);the weaning to estrus interval of sows in MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were shortened 2.6 d and 2.2 d(P<0.05).The feed intake of sows during lactation in groups of SCFA and MCFA were higher than that in control group(P<0.05);the feed intake of sows in n-3PUFA group were significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05).The fat content of the colostrum in n-3PUFA group were significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05);the protein content in the colostrum of SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05);the immunoglobulin(Ig)G content of colostrum in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA were significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05).(2)When compared to control group,the piglets in treatment groups showed no significant differences in birth weight and birth litter weight(P>0.05).But after 21 days,the weaning litter weight and the daily weight gain of piglets in the three experimental groups were all increased,but did not reach a significant level(P>0.05),the daily weight gain of piglets in SCFA group and n-3PUFA group were increased 9.7% and 6.4% compared with that in control group(P>0.05).Diarrhea rate of piglets in SCFA group and MCFA group were significantly lower 8.4% and 6.1% than that in control group(P<0.05);Diarrhea rate of piglets in n-3PUFA group were reduced by 3.3% compared with control group,with no significant difference(P<0.05).(3)Compared with control group,the plasma glucose of piglets in the in MCFA group were increased significantly(P<0.05);the plasma AKP levels in piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0.05);the plasma Cortisol of piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly lower than in control group(P<0.05);compared with control group,the total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)in plasma of suckling piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05).the plasma triglyceride content of piglets in MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05);the content of free fatty acid in plasma of Suckling piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05);The plasma HDL-C in SCFA group and MCFA group were decreased significantly(P<0.05).(4)The relative mRNA of FAS expression in the liver of piglets in SCFA group and MCFA group were significantly reduced(P<0.05);the mRNA of HSL expression in the liver of piglets in SCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly increased(P<0.05).the mRNA expression levels of claudin-1 in jejunum of piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.05);the mRNA expression levels of IL-10 in jejunal mucosa of piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were increased(P>0.05);the mRNA expression levels of IL-1 and TNF-? in jejunum of piglets in MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly decreased(P<0.05).The mRNA expression levels of TLR4 and its effect factor M?D88 in small intestinal mucosa of piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly down-regulated(P<0.05).(5)Compared with the control group,the jejunal crypt depths of piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05).The OTU number,Chao1 index and ACE index of colon microorganism in suckling piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly increased compared with control group(P<0.05);The relative abundances of Firmicutes in the colon of piglets in SCFA group,MCFA group and n-3PUFA group were significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.05);the relative abundances of Bacteriodetes in SCFA and MCFA groups were significantly higher than control group.the total relative abundances and diversity of colon microorganisms in SCFA group,MCFA group and MCFA group of piglets were improved significantly(P<0.05).(Conclusion)In conclusion,supplementated diets with different chain length fatty acid on the sows during late pregnancy and lactation:(1)improved nutritional value of milk in sows,shorten the delivery time interval and weaning to estrus interval of sows,improved the reproductive performance of sow in a certain extent;(2)increased the daily weight gain and weaning weight of piglets,improved lipid metabolism of piglets,decreased diarrhea of piglets;(3)improved bacterial communities diversity and beneficial bacteria ratio of colon in piglets,reduced the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in jejunum of piglets,which were benefited the growth of piglets,the MCFA group had the best effect.