Essential Fatty Acid Nutrition and Seasonal Infertility

D. S. Rosero,1,2 R. D. Boyd,1,2 J. Odle,2 and E. van Heugten2

1Hanor Company and 2Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University

Leman Swine ConferenceSeptember, 2015

PURPOSE

This research demonstrates that:

• Lactating Sows have a minimum requirement for Essential Fatty Acids (EFA)

Funding Provided by NC Pork Council, Seasonal Infertility

• EFA may become deficient in Mature sows, and sows nursing large litters during periods of Heat Stress

• EFA deficiency may compromise the Fertility of Sows

Lactose Fat Protein0

1

2

3

4

5

High Producing Modern Sow

Nutri

ent o

utpu

t, g/

d

Per kg of BW 40

%30% 25

%

1Sow milk: lactose = 6.8%, fat = 5.4%, protein = 4.9%.2Dairy cattle milk: lactose = 4.6%, fat = 4.0%, protein = 3.8%.

Lactation Sow1 Dairy Cattle2

(d 21 of Lactation) (early lactation)

BW, kg 180 650 Milk production, kg/d Total, kg/d 12 45

kg BW basis, g/d 67 69

Perspective: Nutritional Value of FATS

Historical Value of FATS (Animal Fats, Vegetable Oils)

• Increase Caloric Intake during Heat Stress

• Increase Caloric Intake on Sows NOT Full-fed

• Source of essential fatty acids (EFA)

GEDE

Fecal energy Gas. energy

Urine energy

ME

Heat Increment

NEMaintenance

Production

Heat production

Impact of FAT (Level and Type) during Lactation on Sow Feed Efficiency – Heat Stress Model

-2 0 2 4 60.30

0.35

0.40

0.45

0.50

0.55

A-V Blend CWG

Control

Supplemental FAT level, %

Gain

:Fee

d ra

tio

CWG, P = 0.06

Feed EfficiencyNet Gain (Sow + Litter)

Feed

Exp. 1FAT

Level and Type

JAS. 2012. 90:550-559; JAS. 2012. 90:2609-2619

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 711

12

13

14

15A-V blendCWGControl

0 2 4 650

60

70

80

90

Farro

w ra

te, %

Farrow rate Subsequent litter size

Total pigs born, n

Linear, P<0.001

Impact of Lipid (Level and Type) during Lactation on

Subsequent Reproductive Performance

Control vs. Added Lipid, P <0.05

Supplemental FAT level, %

Two Lipid Sources:

• Produced a Different Effects in Lactation (FCR), but

• Same Positive Effects on Subsequent Reproduction

Deficit in Essential Fatty Acids is being Satisfied?

FAT Nutrition of the Lactating Sow: TURNING POINT

Parent Essential Fatty Acids (EFA)

Δ6-desaturase

Elongase

Δ5-desaturase

Elongase

Δ4-desaturase

α-Linolenic acid (C18:3)

Stearidonic acid(C18:4)

Eicosatetraenoic acid(C20:4)

Eicosapentaenoic acid(C20:5)

Docosapentaenoic acid(C22:5)

Docosahexaenoic acid(C22:6)

Omega-6 Omega-3

Linoleic acid (C18:2)

γ-linolenic acid(C18:3)

Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid(C20:3)

Arachidonic acid(C20:4)

Docosatetraenoic acid(C22:4)

Docosapentaenoic acid(C22:5)

Balance of EFA during Lactation

Linoleic acid

PGF2α

Cell Nucleus

Cell

Mem

bran

e

ARA

METABOLISM

ELONGATION

OXIDATION

CONVERSION

Milk SecretionMilk Fat

MOBILIZATION

Cell MembraneAdipose tissue

Dietary EFA

EFA not Absorbed

Absorbed EFA

Balance of EFA during Lactation

n = 50 sows nursing 12 pigs 2 x 2 factorial arrangement plus a control diet

• Linoleic acid: 2.1 and 3.3%• α-Linolenic acid: 0.15 and 0.45%• 4% Added Lipid:

Exp. 2Balance of EFA (Heat Stress

Model)

JAS. 2015. 93:2935-29471 2 30

1020304050607080

Oleic (18:1)Linoleic (18:2)Linolenic (18:3)

FA P

ropo

rtio

n, %

Canola oil

Corn oil Flax oil

Balance of Linoleic Acid

Control 0.15 0.45 0.15 0.450

20406080

100120140160180200

Dietary Intake Output in Milk

Linol

eic

acid

, g/d

2.1 3.3

Dietary intake. Main effect of linoleic acid, P < 0.001 Output in milk. Main effect of linoleic acid, P < 0.001

α-Linolenic

Linoleic

Negative Balance(Secretion≥ Intake)

Balance of α-Linolenic acid

Control 0.15 0.45 0.15 0.4502468

101214161820

Dietary Intake Output in Milk

α-Lin

olne

ic ac

id, g

/d

2.1 3.3

Dietary intake. Main effect of α-linolenic acid, P < 0.001 Output in milk. Main effect of α-linolenic acid, P < 0.001

α-Linolenic

Linoleic

Adequate EFA Levels for Lactating Sows

2,600 Sow Commercial Research unit n = 480 sows: Parity 1 ad P3+ sows (parity 3 -5) 3 x 3 factorial arrangement (4% Added Lipids)

• Linoleic acid: 2.1, 2.7, 3.3 %• α-Linolenic acid: 0.15, 0.30, 0.45%

Response criteria:• Subsequent Farrow rate • Subsequent Litter size

Exp. 3EFA Dose Assay

Heat Stress ModelEFA Deficit Model (Heat Stressed Sows nursing 12 pigs)

JAS. 2014. 92(Suppl. 2):144 (Abstr.)

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 140

20

40

60

80

100

**

2.1 2.7 3.3

Days Post-Weaning

Prop

orti

on o

f so

ws

bred

, %

0 20 40 60 80 100 Farrow70

75

80

85

90

95

100* *

*

Days Post-Conception

Prop

orti

on o

f pr

egna

nt s

ows,

%

RESULTS: Linoleic acid(Parity 3+ sows)

Linoleic acid (%) :

* P < 0.10

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 160

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

*

**

0.15 0.30 0.45

Days after Weaning

Prop

orti

on o

f so

ws

bred

, %

0 20 40 60 80 100 Farrow70

75

80

85

90

95

100*

Days after Breeding

Prop

orti

on o

f pr

egna

nt s

ows,

%

RESULTS: α-Linolenic acid(Parity 3+ sows)

α-Linolenic acid (%) :

* P < 0.10

50

60

70

80

90

100

bcc

ab

a

EFA Balance

Farr

owin

g ra

te, %

Control Positive(0.45% α-Linolenic acid)

Positive(≥ 2.7% Linoleic acid)

Negative(Low EFA)

EFA Balance and Subsequent Farrow Rate

P < 0.05

2.1 2.7 3.310

11

12

13

14

15

Pigs Born Alive Total Pigs Born

Linoleic acid, %

Pigs

, n

Linoleic acid, Linear P = 0.03

RESULTS: Subsequent Litter Size(Parity 1 and 3+ sows)

0.15 0.30 0.45α-Linolenic acid, %

α-Linolenic acid, P = 0.69

ADFI, kg/d 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Linoleic acid intake, g/d                      Diets containing 2.1% 0 21 42 63 84 105 126 147 168 189 210Diets containing 2.7% 0 27 54 81 108 135 162 189 216 243 270Diets containing 3.3% 0 33 66 99 132 165 198 231 264 297 330

Distribution of daily Linoleic acid Intake (g/d)

05

1015202530354045

Perc

enta

ge o

f So

ws,

%

EFA and Reproduction – possible mechanisms (Dairy Cattle model)

-2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44

Days after farrowing

………

Lactation Breeding Gestation

Post-partum uterine health

Arachidonic acid, as precursor

PGF2α

.Pro-inflammation

.Enhance immune response

Follicle-Oocyte

developmentIncreasing

number and size of follicles

Intracellular responsesPPARδ

PG production

ImplantationPregnancy recognition

Luteal phase

Increasing concentrations of

progesterone

Embryodevelopment

. Source of energy

. Membrane fluidity. % of live cells. Improve quality

Take Home Deficiency of EFA during Lactation

• Negative EFA Balance = Milk secretion > Intake• High producing sow, heat stress, mature sow

Supplemental EFA improved Sow Fertility• Improved maintenance of pregnancy > 95% of sows that conceived

• Increased Subsequent Litter size 13.1 vs. 14.0 total pigs born

Adequate EFA levels• Omega 6, Linoleic acid > 100 g/d • Omega 3, α-Linolenic acid > 10 g/d

Dietary Fat:! More than an energy source !

1Feedstuffs, May 2014.2NRC, 2012 (Table 17-4).

THANK YOU

Prostaglandins Leukotrienes

Inflammation Lipoxins Resolvins and protectins

Possible mechanisms of EFA: Post-Partum Uterine Health

Cell Membrane• Fluidity

• StructureFollicle

development Mature Follicle

Oocyte

Possible mechanisms of EFA:Follicle – Oocyte Development

PPARδ

RXR

Linoleic acid PGF2α

Lipoxygenases, Cyclooxygenases

Cell Nucleus

Cell Membrane

Possible Mechanisms of EFA:Activation of Nuclear Receptor PPARδ

Fish-marine oilsFatty acid,

% Flaxseed Algal Krill Herring, Pacific Menhaden Salmon,

Chum

C16:0 4 28 13 25 28 17C18:1 12 8 5 14 13 21C18:2 n-6 10 2 1 1 1 2

Omega-3C18:3 60 0 1 0 1 0C20:5 0 3 14 11 10 7C22:6 0 35 8 23 13 16

Marine oils – Fatty acid composition

2.1 2.7 3.350

60

70

80

90

100

0.15 0.30 0.45Linoleic acid, % of diet

Farr

owin

g ra

te, %

14 7

6

918

5

2211

7

PARITY 3+

α-Linolenic acid, %

Omega 6 : Omega 3 Fatty Acid Ratio

66 98 129 160 1920.60

0.65

0.70

0.75

0.80

0.85

0.90

0.95

1.00Farrow Rate, %