The Influence of Different Dietary Levels of Linoleic Acid on Reproductive Performance and Fatty Acid Composition of Milk Fat and Plasma Lipids in Pigs

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Abstract
The effect of different dietary levels (1.4, 2.2 and 4.8 cal%) of the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid (C18:2.omega.6) on the fatty acid composition of plasma lipids of sows; colostrum and milk lipids; plasma lipids of the progeny; and the reproductive performance and pre-weaning performance of the piglets was investigated. The fatty acid pattern of colostrum-, milk- and plasma lipids of the sows and their progeny was readily altered by the fat source in the diet. The major changes in the fatty acids occurred in the proportions of C18:2 and C18:1. As the dietary level of C18:2 increased, the level of C18:2 increased and the level of C18: 1 decreased proportionally. The diets did not have any significant influence on the C20:4 level of lipids from colostrum, milk and plasma. There was a tendency to a higher level of C20:4 in sows'' plasma as the sows received more dietary linoleic acid. For colostrum the opposite was the case. The level of C20:4 of the milk fat was the same for all the groups. Piglets receiving 1.4 cal% linoleic acid in their diets have a need for more essential fatty acids in their feed. An increase of the level of linoleic acid in the diet above 2.2 cal% has little effect on the performance and fatty acid composition of the piglets. As reproductive properties are concerned there was no significant difference among the 3 groups. There was a tendency to a higher milk yield as the sows got more linoleic acid in the diet.