Effect of the incorporation of lipids from palm oil or linseed in diets on sow and piglets’

Three batches of 24 crossbred LWxLD sows were used to compare the effects of 1.4% incorporation rate of lipids from either palm oil, rich in saturated fatty acids, or extruded linseed, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), (especially C18:3 n-3). To a control diet sows were allocated between the TEM treatments (Within extra lipid incorporation), the PAL treatments (1.4% incorporation rate of palm oil) ordthe LIN treatments (3.5% incorporation rate of extruded linseed). The net energy content was similar amongst treatments and fixed to 9.3 and 9.6 MJ/kg during gestation and lactation, respectively. Neither body weight, back fat thickness at farrowing, litter site not weaning to oestrus interval was affected by the treatment. Withier litters of at least 12 total born piglets, the farrowing progress significantly faster in LIN sows than in groups. Withier litters of 16 total born piglets or more, the farrowing progress observed in PAL sows was intermediate between the LIN sows (rapid) and TEM sows (slow). Survival rate of low birth weight piglets was improved in LIN group (1.0-1.2 kg) and in PAL on (1.2-1.4 kg).