l‐carnitine and fat type in the maternal diet during gestation and lactation modify the fatty acid composition and expression of lipid metabolism‐related genes in piglets

This study examined the influence of adding different amounts of maternal dietary l ‐carnitine and two fat types on fatty acid (FA) composition and the expression of lipid metabolism‐related genes in piglets. The experiment was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial with two fat types (3.5% soyabean oil, SO, and 3.5% fish oil, FO) and two levels of l ‐carnitine (0 and 100 mg/kg) added to the sows' diets. A higher proportion of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and a lower ratio of n‐6/n‐3 PUFA in sow milk and piglet tissues were observed in the FO groups than in the SO groups. Adding l ‐carnitine increased the proportion of C16:1 in sow milk and decreased n‐3 PUFA in piglet subcutaneous fat. Hepatic peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPAR‐α) was more abundantly expressed in piglets from the FO groups than from the SO groups (p < 0.05), whereas stearoyl‐CoA‐desaturase (SCD), sterol regulatory element binding protein‐1 (SREBP1) and ?6‐desaturase (D6D) genes were less expressed in the FO groups compared with piglets from the SO groups. The expression of fatty acid synthase (FAS) genes was decreased in the SO groups with l ‐carnitine compared to that of the other dietary treatments. No differences among dietary treatments were observed with regard to the expression of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC). In conclusion, FO and l ‐carnitine supplementation in sows affect FA composition and hepatic gene expression in piglets.     

The effect of different concentrations of linseed oil or fish oil in the maternal diet on the fatty acid composition and oxidative status of sows and piglets

N‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential for foetal development. Hence, including n‐3 PUFA in the sow diet can be beneficial for reproduction. Both the amount and form (precursor fatty acids vs. long chain PUFA) of supplementation are important in this respect. Furthermore, including n‐3 PUFA in the diet can have negative effects, such as decreased arachidonic acid (ARA) concentration and increased oxidative stress. This study aimed to compare the efficacy to increase eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations in the piglet, when different concentrations of linseed oil (LO, source of precursor α‐linolenic acid) or fish oil (FO, source of EPA and DHA) were included in the maternal diet. Sows were fed a palm oil diet or a diet including 0.5% or 2% LO or FO from day 45 of gestation until weaning. Linoleic acid (LA) was kept constant in the diets to prevent a decrease in ARA, and all diets were supplemented with α‐tocopherol acetate (150 mg/kg) and organic selenium (0.4 mg/kg) to prevent oxidative stress. Feeding 0.5% LO or 0.5% FO to the sows resulted in comparable EPA concentrations in the 5‐day old piglet liver, but both diets resulted in lower EPA concentrations than when 2% LO was fed. The highest EPA concentration was obtained when 2% FO was fed. The DHA level in the piglet liver could only be increased when FO, but not LO, was fed to the sows. The 2% FO diet had no advantage over the 0.5% FO diet to increase DHA in the piglet. Despite the constant LA concentration in the sow diet, a decrease in ARA could not be avoided when LO or FO were included in the diet. Feeding 2% FO to the sows increased the malondialdehyde concentration (marker for lipid peroxidation) in sow plasma, but not in piglets.     

Effect of dietary Schizochytrium microalga oil and fish oil on plasma cholesterol level in rats

The purpose of the study was to test the hypothesis that the dietary oils with different content of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affect plasma lipid level in rats in a different degree. The diets with 6% of fish oil (FO) and Schizochytrium microalga oil (SchO; EPA+DHA content in the diets 9.5 + 12.3 and 2.6 + 29.5% of the sum of total fatty acids, respectively) were used; the diet with 6% of safflower oil (high content of n‐6 PUFA linoleic acid, 65.5%; EPA+DHA content 0.7 + 0.9%) was used as a control. The difference between FO and SchO was established only in the case of plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) level: plasma TAG of the FO‐fed rats did not differ from the control rats (p > 0.05), while SchO decreased (p < 0.05) plasma TAG to 46% of the control. On the other hand, FO and SchO decreased (p < 0.05) total plasma cholesterol (TC) in rats in the same extent, to 73% of the control. Regarding the underlying mechanisms for the TC decrease, both SchO and FO up‐regulated hepatic Insig‐1 gene (181 and 133% of the control; p < 0.05), which tended (p = 0.15 and p = 0.19 respectively) to decrease the amount of hepatic nSREBP‐2 protein (61 and 66% of the control). However, neither SchO nor FO influenced hepatic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐glutaryl‐CoA reductase gene expression (p > 0.05); SchO (but not FO) increased (p < 0.05) low‐density lipoprotein receptor mRNA in the liver. It was concluded that the decrease of total plasma cholesterol might be caused by an increased cholesterol uptake from plasma into the cells (in the case of SchO), but also by other (in the present study not tested) mechanisms.     

Effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on red blood cell lipid composition and plasma metabolites in the cockatiel, Nymphicus hollandicus

Although dietary n-3 fatty acids have been extensively studied in poultry, they have not yet been prospectively investigated in psittacines, despite potential benefits for preventing and treating atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, and other chronic disease processes. The objectives of this study were to investigate the incorporation of dietary n-3 fatty acids into red blood cells (RBC) and to determine the effects of supplementation of psittacine diets with fish or flax oil on plasma lipids and lipoproteins in the cockatiel. Adult cockatiels were fed a custom-formulated diet containing either 4% (wt/wt, as-fed) beef tallow (CON), 3% fish oil + 1% tallow (FSH), or 3.5% flax oil + 0.5% tallow (FLX; n = 20 per diet group). Baseline measurements were obtained for RBC fatty acid composition, triacylglycerides (TAG), and cholesterol. After 8 to 13 wk on the study diets, plasma chemistry profiles, lipoprotein density profiles, and RBC fatty acid composition were determined. At 8 wk, total plasma cholesterol was least in FSH birds (P < 0.05) and TAG concentrations were less in FSH birds than FLX birds (P < 0.05). Total n-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid were markedly greater in the RBC of FSH birds than FLX or CON birds (P < 0.05). Alpha linolenic acid was greatest in FLX (P < 0.05). Initial and final BW, and nonlipid plasma chemistry values did not differ among diet groups. No adverse effects of dietary supplementation of cockatiels with 3.5% flax oil or 3% fish oil were observed during the 13-wk feeding period. Although fish and flax oils provided similar total n-3 PUFA to the diets, fish oil caused greater reductions in cholesterol and TAG, and greater total RBC n-3 incorporation. Thus, dietary modification of psittacine diets with long chain n-3 PUFA from fish oil appears safe and may be beneficial to these long-lived companion birds.     

Effect of dietary fish oil on fatty acid deposition and expression of cholesterol homeostasis controlling genes in the liver and plasma lipid profile: comparison of two animal models

The objective of the present study was to compare hepatic fatty acid deposition, plasma lipid level and expression of cholesterol homeostasis controlling genes in the liver of rats (Wistar Albino; n = 32) and pigs (Large White × Landrace; n = 32) randomly assigned into two groups of 16 animals each and fed 10 weeks the diet with either 2.5% of fish oil (F; source of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid, EPA+DHA) or 2.5% of palm oil (P; high content of saturated fatty acids; control). F‐rats deposited in the liver three times less EPA, but 1.3 times more DHA than F‐pigs (p < 0.05). Dietary fish oil relative to palm oil increased PPARα and SREBP‐2 gene expression much strongly (p < 0.01) in the pig liver in comparison with the rat liver, but expression of Insig‐1 and Hmgcr genes in the liver of the F‐pigs relative to the expression of these genes in the liver of the P‐pigs was substantially lower (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05 respectively) as compared to rats. When plasma lipid concentration in the F‐animals was expressed as a ratio of the plasma concentration in the P‐counterparts, dietary fish oil decreased HDL cholesterol less (p < 0.01), but LDL cholesterol and triacylglycerols more (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001 respectively) in rats than in pigs: more favourable effect of fish oil on rat plasma lipids in comparison with pigs can therefore be concluded. Concentration of total cholesterol and both its fractions in the rat plasma was negatively correlated (p < 0.01) with hepatic DHA, but also with unsaturated myristic and palmitic acid respectively. It has been concluded that regarding the similarity of the plasma lipid levels to humans, porcine model can be considered superior; however, using this model, dietary fish oil at the tested amount (2.5%) was not able to improve plasma lipid markers in comparison with saturated palm oil.     

Dose-response effect of fish oil substitution in parturition feed on erythrocyte membrane characteristics and sow performance

The present study aimed to investigate whether n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) incorporate into erythrocyte membranes of peripartal sows in a dose-responsive manner and whether the altered fatty acid profile affects the cell membrane characteristics. At day 109 of gestation (day 0), 51 sows were divided into five treatment groups. Each group received a diet with a different ratio of fish oil to pork lard for nine consecutive days. Blood samples were taken at day 0 and 10 days later. The fatty acid profile of erythrocytes was determined, as well as the osmotic fragility and oxidative stability of erythrocytes. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were determined in plasma samples. Finally, reproductive and performance parameters of both sows and piglets were recorded until weaning. Supplementation of fish oil during the peripartal period changed the fatty acid profile of erythrocyte membranes in a dose-responsive manner. Although the n-3 PUFA content of erythrocyte membranes increased with increasing amounts of fish oil in the diet, no significant effect on erythrocyte osmotic fragility could be recorded. In contrast, oxidative stability of erythrocytes decreased linearly with increasing amounts of fish oil in the diet. Similarly, both TBARS and FRAP linearly increased with increasing percentages of fish oil in the diet. Neither piglet nor sow performance was influenced by dietary treatments, except for a decrease of both piglet survival and weaning weight with increasing quantities of fish oil supplemented. It is concluded that changes in dietary lipid sources can affect the membrane's fatty acid profile within days, and mainly influences oxidative stability of the cells.     

Effects of different n‐6 to n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio on reproductive performance,fecal microbiota and nutrient digestibility of gestation‐lactating sows and suckling piglets

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary ratios of n‐6:n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on reproductive performance, fecal microbiota and nutrient digestibility of gestation‐lactating sows and suckling piglets. Fifteen primiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) were randomly allotted into three treatments. Fed diets contained different ratios of n‐6:n‐3 PUFA, including 20:1, 15:1 and 10:1. No differences were detected among the treatments for average daily feed intake (ADFI) of sows and the back fat levels during lactation (P > 0.05). Body weight (BW) loss of sows after farrowing to weanling was greater in the 10:1 treatment compared with 15:1 or 20:1 (P < 0.05). In piglets, a great significant difference for BW was observed at 4 weeks (P < 0.01). Furthermore, average daily gain (ADG) of piglets in the 10:1 treatment was higher (P < 0.05). No difference was observed among treatments in nutrient digestibility of sows (P > 0.05). A great significant difference for fecal microbiota was in the 10:1 treatment compared with 20:1 and 15:1 treatments (P < 0.01). In conclusion, altering the ratio of n‐6:n‐3 PUFA in gestation‐lactating sow diet had no difference on nutrient digestibility in gestation‐lactating sows, but it can partially improve reproductive performance.     

Effect of n‐3 PUFA‐rich fish oil supplementation during late gestation on kidding,uterine involution and resumption of follicular activity in goat

We have shown that dietary supplementation of n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n‐3 PUFA)‐rich fish oil (FO) around the breeding time improved the utero‐ovarian functions in the goat. Here, we investigated the effect of FO supplementation during the periparturient period on serum n‐3 PUFA, prostaglandin F_2α metabolite (PGFM), placental expulsion, uterine involution, resumption of oestrus and neonatal vigour. Rohilkhandi goat in advanced gestation (n = 16) was divided into two equal groups. One group was supplemented with FO containing 26% n‐3 long‐chain PUFA at the rate of 156 mg per kg body weight, while the control group was fed isocaloric palm oil (PO) from ?3 to +3 week of kidding. Dietary FO increased serum concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by 7.3‐ and 6.6‐fold, respectively, after 6 weeks of supplementation. Goats in FO group expelled the foetal membranes 99.1 min earlier (p < .01) than those of PO group. Further, dietary FO significantly decreased the serum PGFM on day 7 post‐partum. However, no difference was found on uterine involution, which was complete by day 20 post‐partum in either group. Resumption of follicular activity by day 5 post‐partum was 87.5% in the FO as compared to 25% in the PO group (p < .05). Similarly, occurrence of behavioural oestrus by day 90 post‐partum was 57.1% in goats of the FO group while none of does was in the PO group (p < .01) expressed oestrus. It was concluded that feeding FO‐rich diet during ?3 to +3 weeks of kidding decreased the PGFM till day 7 post‐partum, hastened the expulsion of foetal membranes and reduced the time from kidding to first post‐partum oestrus in Rohilkhandi does.     

Sow litter size is increased in the subsequent parity when lactating sows are fed diets containing n-3 fatty acids from fish oil

Supplementing diets with n-3 fatty acids from fish oil has been shown to improve reproductive performance in dairy cattle and sheep, but there is little published literature on its effects in sows. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of sows fed fish oil as a source of n-3 PUFA prefarrowing and during lactation. From d 107.7 ± 0.1 of pregnancy, 328 sows ranging in parity from 0 to 7 (parity 1.95 ± 0.09, mean ± SE) were fed either a diet containing tallow (control) or an isocaloric diet containing 3 g of fish oil/kg of diet (n-3). Diets were formulated to contain the same amount of DE (13.9 MJ/kg), crude fat (54 g/kg), and CP (174 g/kg). Sows were fed their treatment diet at 3 kg daily for 8 d before farrowing and continued on treatment diets ad libitum until weaning at 18.7 ± 0.1 d of lactation. After weaning, all sows were fed a gestation diet without fish oil until their subsequent farrowing. There was no effect (P > 0.310) of feeding n-3 diets prefarrowing on piglet birth weight, preweaning growth rate, piglet weaning weight, or sow feed intake. However, n-3 sows had a larger subsequent litter size (10.7 ± 0.3 vs. 9.7 ± 0.3 total born; 10.2 ± 0.3 vs. 9.3 ± 0.3 born live; P < 0.05). In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate that feeding sows a diet containing n-3 PUFA from fish oil fed before farrowing and during lactation increased litter size in the subsequent parity independent of energy intake.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acids influence inflammatory markers in a cellular model for canine osteoarthritis

Although it is well recognized that dietary supplementation with fish oil improves clinical symptoms in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis, the molecular basis for the dietary benefit is not yet completely resolved in dogs. This study was designed to further clarify how polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) affect key factors of cartilage degeneration in a canine cell culture system mimicking osteoarthritis. Canine chondrocytes were incubated either without or with 10 μm of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), arachidonic acid (AA) or 3.6 μm ibuprofen (Ibu) as positive control for 6 days. After the supplementation, cells were stimulated with 10 ng/ml interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) for another 48 hr to induce osteoarthritic changes, or left unstimulated. We analysed fatty acid uptake via gas–liquid chromatography, nitric oxide (NO) production via Griess assay, prostaglandin E (PGE) production via ELISA and relative gene expression of several cartilage matrix proteinases, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase‐2 via RT‐qPCR. After supplementation, the chondrocytes rapidly incorporated the PUFA into their fatty acid pools. The stimulation with IL‐1β caused a marked increase of most of the inflammatory markers measured. N‐3 PUFA EPA reduced IL‐induced gene expression of iNOS and corresponding production of NO. N‐6 PUFA AA also decreased iNOS and NO, but furthermore lowered gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐3. On the other hand, AA upregulated the aggrecanase ADAMTS‐5 and augmented the release of PGE. The effect of n‐3 PUFA DHA turned out to be negligible. Our results reveal molecular mechanisms by which PUFA affect degenerative joint disease in dogs. Of particular importance is that not only EPA but also AA decreased several inflammatory markers in our model. Thus, we conclude that an appropriate balance of both n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acids deserves more attention in dietary interventions.     

Influence of dietary fat source on sow and litter performance,colostrum and milk fatty acid profile in late gestation and lactation

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with various fat sources (3.8–3.9% of diet) during late pregnancy and lactation on the reproductive performance, fatty acids profile in colostrum, milk and serum of sow progeny. A total of 80 multiparous sows were randomly fed a control (adding no oil), palm oil (PO), fish oil (FO) or soybean oil (SO) supplemented diet from 90 days of pregnancy to weaning. Supplementation of FO increased litter size of weak piglets, compared with the control‐fed sows (P < 0.05). Dietary FO and SO supplementation, enhanced the weaning survival rate, litter weaning weight, litter weight gain and fat content in milk (P < 0.05). The highest immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM levels in colostrum and milk were observed in the FO group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the highest concentration of C22:5 (n‐3) and C22:6 (n‐3) in colostrum, milk and piglet serum was observed in the FO group (P < 0.05). Taken together, dietary inclusion of FO or SO improved growth performance of nursing piglets by increasing milk fat output, and FO consumption by sows might benefit the piglets via increasing n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid availability and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) secretion.     

Effect of dietary supplementation of fish oil for lactating sows and weaned piglets on piglet Th polarization

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on piglet T helper cells (Th) polarization in relation to its impact on piglet serum interferon γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) concentrations and splenic expression of Th1/Th2 characteristic genes. The diets of 18 gestating sows were supplemented with 7% lard (C) (n = 10) or 7% fish oil (T) (n = 8) from 10 d before parturition to weaning. At weaning, a split plot experiment was designed, 56 piglets, 28 each from sows fed with fish oil diet or lard diet, were divided into four groups of 7 replicates (one female and one castrated male per replicate) based on both sow diet during lactation and post-weaning piglet diet (C had 7% lard and T had 7% fish oil): CC, CT, TC, TT, and were fed the 7% fish oil or lard diet from day 35 to day 70. Serum concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-10, and Th1/Th2 related genes expression levels in spleen were measured and analyzed. The results showed that piglets fed with fish oil diet during post-weaning tended to have higher serum IFN-γ/IL-10 ratio (P = 0.09) than lard diet fed piglets. Lactation fish oil feeding increased splenic IL-12b, IL-12 receptor β2 (IL-12Rβ2), IL-2 and IFN-γ genes expression (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and post-weaning fish oil feeding increased splenic IL-12b (P = 0.06), IL-2 (P < 0.01) and IFN-γ (P = 0.08) mRNA expression than that in lard diet fed piglets at the end of this experiment. On the other hand, IL-4 gene expression (P = 0.01) in spleen was lower in weaned piglet from fish oil diet fed sows than that from lard diet fed sows. However, post-weaning piglets fed fish oil diet had higher splenic IL-4 (P = 0.06), IL-6 (P < 0.01) and IL-10 (P = 0.05) mRNA abundances than that fed with lard diet. These results indicated that dietary fish oil during lactation could increase Th1 polarization and accelerate immune maturation; while 7% fish oil in weaned piglets' diet was likely to increase Th2 cytokines expression.     

Dietary linseed oil in the maternal diet affects immunoglobulins,tissue fatty acid composition and expression of lipid metabolism‐related genes in piglets

This experiment investigated the effects of supplementing the maternal diet with linseed oil (LSO) and soya bean oil (SBO) on immunoglobulins, the fatty acid composition and hepatic expression of lipid metabolism‐related genes in piglets. Multiparous sows (twenty‐four per diet) were fed on diets containing a supplement of either SBO or LSO during last week of gestation and lactation. The results indicated that supplementation of maternal diet with LSO could improve the weaning weight of piglets and average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.05). The concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) was enhanced in sow plasma, colostrum and milk by the addition of LSO (p < 0.05). In addition, the concentration of 18: 3n‐3 fatty acids was higher in the milk of LSO sows. Meanwhile, maternal supplementation with LSO increased the levels of plasma IgG, IgA and the tissues n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in piglets (p < 0.05). Correspondingly, the mRNA expression levels of hepatic ?5‐desaturase (D5D) and ?6‐desaturase (D6D) were higher, and fatty acid synthase (FAS) was lower in piglets from LSO‐fed sows when compared with that in the SBO group. In conclusion, LSO supplementation of the maternal diet increases immunoglobulins, modifies the fatty acid composition and affects the gene of D5D and D6D expression of piglets.     

The effect of dietary corn oil and fish oil supplementation in dogs with naturally occurring gingivitis

The aim of this randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study was to evaluate if downregulation of the inflammatory response due to ingestion of high levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can slow down gingivitis development, and thus delay the progression of periodontal disease (PD) in dogs. To this aim, 44 client‐owned adult dogs (>1 and <8 years old) with naturally occurring PD (stages 1 and 2) were submitted to a plaque, gingivitis and calculus scoring followed by a dental cleaning procedure and collection of blood samples. The animals were then fed a canine adult maintenance diet, supplemented with either corn oil (0.00 g EPA and 0.00 g DHA) or fish oil (1.53 g EPA and 0.86 g DHA, both per 1,000 kcal ME) over the following 5 months. At the end of this period, the PD scoring and the blood sampling were repeated. The animals consuming fish oil had higher plasma levels of the longer chain (C ≥ 20) omega 3 fatty acids (p < 0.01) and similar plasma levels of alpha‐linolenic acid (p = 0.53), omega 6 fatty acids (p > 0.63) and C reactive protein (p = 0.28) then the ones consuming corn oil. There were no differences between fish oil and corn oil diet supplementation on plaque (18.2 vs. 17.8, p = 0.78), calculus (10.1 vs. 11.5, p = 0.18) or gingivitis (19.3 vs. 19.0, p = 0.77) indexes. The authors conclude that supplementation with EPA + DHA does not slow down progression of PD in dogs.     

Effects of supplementation with green tea by‐products on growth performance,meat quality,blood metabolites and immune cell proliferation in goats

Forty‐eight castrated male goats were used to determine the effects of feeding green tea by‐products (GTB) on growth performance, meat quality, blood metabolites and immune cell proliferation. Experimental treatments consisted of basal diets supplemented with four levels of GTB (0%, 0.5%, 1.0% or 2.0%). Four replicate pens were assigned to each treatment with three goats per replicate. Increasing dietary GTB tended to linearly increase the overall average weight gain and feed intake (p = 0.09). Water holding capacity, pH and sensory attributes of meat were not affected by GTB supplementation, while cooking loss was reduced both linearly and quadratically (p < 0.01). The redness (linear; p = 0.02, quadratic; p < 0.01) and yellowness (quadratic; p < 0.01) values of goat meat were improved by GTB supplementation. Increasing dietary GTB quadratically increased protein and decreased crude fat (p < 0.05), while linearly decreased cholesterol (p = 0.03) content of goat meat. The proportions of monounsaturated fatty acid, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n‐6 PUFA increased linearly (p < 0.01) and n‐3 PUFA increased quadratically (p < 0.05) as GTB increased in diets. Increasing dietary GTB linearly increased the PUFA/SFA (saturated fatty acid) and tended to linearly and quadratically increase (p ≤ 0.10) the n‐6/n‐3 ratio. The thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances values of meat were lower in the 2.0% GTB‐supplemented group in all storage periods (p < 0.05). Dietary GTB linearly decreased plasma glucose and cholesterol (p < 0.01) and quadratically decreased urea nitrogen concentrations (p = 0.001). The growth of spleen cells incubated in concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharides medium increased significantly (p < 0.05) in response to GTB supplementation. Our results suggest that GTB may positively affect the growth performance, meat quality, blood metabolites and immune cell proliferation when supplemented as a feed additive in goat diet.     

饲喂不同油脂对黄羽肉鸡肌肉组织中脂肪酸组成的影响

选用 8 3日龄的雌性广西黄羽肉鸡 90只 ,随机分成 5组 (每组设 2个重复 ,每个重复 9只 ,共 18只 ) ,研究饲粮中不同油脂对肉鸡肌肉组织脂肪酸组成的影响。 5组饲粮分别含 3%的富含饱和脂肪酸的棕榈油 (PO3组 ,对照组 )、 3% (LO3组 )和 5%的富含α 亚麻酸 (C18:3n 3,ALA)的亚麻油 (LO5组 )、 5%的富含长链n 3脂肪酸 (如C2 0 :5n 3,EPA ;C2 2 :6n 3,DHA)的鱼油 (FO5组 )、 5%的富含亚油酸(C18:2n 6 ,LA)和ALA的火麻仁油 (HO5组 )。饲喂 2 8d,取样测定胸肌和腿肌中的脂肪酸组成。结果表明 :PO3(对照组 )肌肉中的n 6 /n 3脂肪酸比值比例高于其他组 (P <0 0 5) ;与对照组相比 ,LO3组和LO5组以ALA和LA为主的多不饱和脂肪酸 (PUFA)增加 (P <0 0 5) ,ALA和LA在体内可转化为相应的长链脂肪酸 ;FO5组以长链n 3PUFA ,(如EPA、DPA、DHA)为主的PUFA含量增加 (P <0 0 5) ;HO5组以LA为主的n 6脂肪酸高于其他组 (P <0 0 5) ;长链PUFA (如DHA)易沉积于胸肌中 ,而LA ,ALA易沉积于腿肌中。由此可见 ,肉鸡肌肉组织脂肪酸的组成充分反映了饲粮油脂的脂肪酸组成 ,通过饲粮中添加不同脂肪酸组成的油脂可生产富含特定PUFA的鸡肉     

Effect of soya bean and fish oil inclusion in diets on milk and plasma enzymes from sheep and goat related to oxidation

This study investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of soya bean oil combined with fish oil (SFO) on the activities of a) superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione transferase (GST) in blood plasma and b) SOD, GR, CAT and lactoperoxidase (LPO) in the milk of sheep and goats. Furthermore, the oxidative stress indicators for measuring total antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity [ferric reducing ability of plasma ( FRAP) and 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays] and oxidative stress biomarkers [malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC)] were also determined in the blood plasma and milk of the animals. For this purpose, twelve dairy sheep and twelve dairy goats were assigned each to two homogenous subgroups. Treatments in both animal species involved a control diet without added oil and a diet supplemented with 5% soya bean oil and 1% fish oil. The results showed that the inclusion of SFO in the diets of sheep and goats increased significantly the activities of CAT and GR in their blood plasma. The same effect was observed for the activities of GST and FRAP in the blood plasma of goats. Moreover, the fact that the goats had significantly higher average daily PUFA intake (3.62 g/kg BW^0.75) compared to sheep (2.51 g/kg BW^0.75) resulted in an enhancement in the MDA content in their plasma. A significant increase in CAT activity in the milk in both animal species fed with SFO diets was also found. Finally, due to the higher apparent transfer rate of n‐3 FA from the diet to the milk in sheep, the PC concentrations were found to be enhanced in their plasma and milk. In conclusion, the impact of dietary SFO supplementation on the oxidative status of body and/or on the milk of small ruminants depends not only on the daily PUFA intake, but also on the amount of n‐3 FA that reach their milk.     

Influence of oils on the Taihe Silky Fowl production performances and fatty acids composition of the meat*

Focus on the enrichment of eggs and poultry meat with polyunsaturated fatty acids has increased given their important roles in the human health. The inclusion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (especially n‐3 fatty acids, n‐3 FA) is achieved by different biological methods. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of inclusion of different oils into the feed on the production performances and fatty acids composition of the meat in Taihe Silky Fowl. A total of 80 fowls were selected at 8 weeks and randomly divided into four groups and fed with basal diet, basal diet + 4% fish oil, basal diet + 4% soybean oil and basal diet + 4% palm oil within 3 weeks respectively. The results showed that: the fowls fed with the diet inclusion of 4% fish oil had higher total gain, average daily gain, the second and the third week average daily gain than those in control group (p < 0.05). Also, inclusion of fish oil could improve the content of C22:5 n‐3 and C22:6 n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the meat significantly compared with the other three groups (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, C18:3 n‐3 and C18:4 n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were also higher than in the other three groups (p < 0.05 and 0.01). Oils Supplementation could enhance C14:0 and C16:0 (p < 0.05) level, but they did not affect the total saturated fatty acids in the meat. Compared with the control group, fish oil inclusion could lower the C18:2 n‐6 level, higher the C18:3 n‐6, C22:4 n‐6 and C22:5 n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the meat (p < 0.05). Moreover, diets supplied with 4% fish oil reduced the total n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids level and enhanced the total n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids level in the meat, which resulted in that the ratio of n‐3/n‐6 was improved, and could meet the need of human body.     

Increased fat and polyunsaturated fatty acid content in sow gestation diet has no effect on gene expression in progeny during the first 7 days of life

The ‘developmental origins of health and disease’ hypothesis proposes not only that we are what we eat, but also that we could be what our parents ate. Here, we aimed to improve health and performance of young piglets via maternal diets based on the hypothesis that maternal nutritional interventions change metabolic programming in piglets, reflected by differential gene expression early in life. Therefore, sows were fed either a regular diet, based on barley, wheat and wheat by‐products, sugar beet pulp, palm oil and oilseed meal, or a high‐fat (HF) diet consisting of the regular diet supplemented with an additional amount of 3.5% soybean oil and 1% fish oil at the expense of palm oil and wheat. Performance results, physiological parameters and gene expression in liver of piglets and blood of piglets and sows at day 7 after farrowing from both diet groups were compared. The HF diet tended to enhance growth rate of the offspring in the first week of life. No significant differences in gene expression in liver tissue and blood could be detected between the two groups, neither with whole‐genome microarray analysis, nor with gene specific qPCR analysis. In this study, the feeding of a high‐fat diet with increased amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) to gestating sows under practical farm settings did not induce significant changes in gene expression in sows and offspring.