Supplementing sow diets with docosahexaenoic acid alters fatty acid composition of sow blood and milk

The objective of this study was to test the effect of supplementing sows with docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3; DHA) of microalgae origin as an in-feed additive on sow and litter parameters, milk yield and composition, plasma fatty acid (FA) composition, plasma cytokines, and fecal microbiota of sows and piglets. The DHA were supplemented (50 mg/kg feed) from farrowing of the previous litter and until weaning of the next litter (n = 248 sows). Milk samples were collected at d 6 and 17, and blood samples from jugular vein at d 17 of the lactation. The DHA concentration in milk and plasma was (P < 0.05) greater for DHA supplemented sows. Milk FA composition showed palmitoleic acid (C16:1 n-7; P < 0.05) and gondoic acid (C20:1 n-9; P < 0.05) were greater in the control compared to the DHA supplemented group. Plasma FA composition showed arachidic acid (C20:0) was (P < 0.05) greater in the DHA fed sows compared with the control sows. There was no effect of treatment on sow and litter parameters, and milk concentrations of fat, lactose and protein, whereas sows on the DHA diet had greater concentration of DHA in the milk (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between treatments in measured concentrations of cytokines. The microbial alpha diversity was similar between sows fed control and DHA diets and between piglets from sows fed control and DHA diets. In conclusion, dietary inclusion of DHA in sow diets during gestation and lactation affected FA composition of sows plasma and milk.