The effects of supplementing EPA and DHA to ewes during late gestation on finishing lambs

CARRANZA A; GARCIA L; COLLEMAN D; RELLING A

Columbus

Simposio; 14th Annual Russel Klein Nutrition Research; 2017

Background: Fatty acids regulate many physiological pathways. There is also evidence that fatty acids have a lifelong impact on fetal development and metabolism of offspring. Objective/Hypothesis: Our objective was to investigate the impact of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during late gestation on lamb performance, metabolism and response to fatty acid supplementation during the finishing period.Methods: Lambs born from ewes supplemented with the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) EPA and DHA, or monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) at a similar concentration of fat during late gestation were used. Using a 2x2 factorial design, 74 lambs were blocked and assigned to a diet enriched with PUFA, or MUFA at 1% of dry matter. Lambs were weighed and bled at the start and every two weeks until slaughter. Plasma glucose and non-esterified fatty acids concentration, dry matter intake (DMI) and average daily gain (ADG), and carcass data were measured. Data were analyzed as repeated measures in a randomized complete block design with a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments (SAS 9.4).Results: There were not significant differences in the triple interactions (P>0.1) of the dam diet, offspring diet and time. Lambs born from ewes supplemented with PUFA on average were heavier during the finishing period (P=0.01). There was an offspring treatment by time interaction with lambs supplemented with MUFA having greater body weights over time (P=0.03). Lambs that consumed MUFA had a significantly greater DMI (P=0.01) and tended to have greater ADG and hot carcass weight (HCW) (P