Evaluation of the lipid metabolic profile and its relation with fetal nutrition in gestating sows

Objective. Evaluate the lipidic metabolism of gestating sows in response to a modification in the fat level of the diet and its effect on fetal nutrition through metabolic indicators. Materials and methods. Fifty?six first?timers or multiparous sows were selected receive a diet without adding extra fat (SAp or SAm) or with extra fat addition (AGp o AGm). The SA diet consisted in feeding a conventional commercial diet of 3 kg/day, in the AG diet the corn was reduced and soybean oil was included to supply 20% extra fat. Blood samples were collected at 85, 100, 113 days of gestation and 24 hours postpartum, and on 50% of the piglets born alive per litter. Serum cholesterol (CT), triglycerides (TG), high (HDL) and low (LDL) density lipoproteins, non?esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB) were analyzed. Results. The Serum concentrations of HDL, LDL, CT NEFA, BHB, and TG (p<0.01) increased in sows on days 100 and 113, but decreased at 24 hours postpartum. Blood metabolites in piglets under the influence of both treatments showed significant differences (p<0.01). Conclusions. There was no statistical effect from the modification of dietary fat on LDL and NEFA; for the remaining indicators differences were evident in pregnant sows. There was no correlation between metabolic indicators in mothers and piglets.