Effects of Increasing Dietary Alpha-Linolenic Acids on Nursery Pig Growth Performance and Response to Immune Challenge

Authors

Jenna J. Bromm, Kansas State UniversityFollow
Mike D. Tokach, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow
Jason C. Woodworth, Kansas State UniversityFollow
Robert D. Goodband, Department of Animal Science and Industry, Kansas State UniversityFollow
Joel M. DeRouchey, Kansas State UniversityFollow
Jordan T. Gebhardt, Kansas State University, ManhattanFollow

Keywords

Omega-3, nursery pigs, LPS, O3 Trial Feed

Abstract

A total of 350 weanling pigs (Line 241 × 600, DNA; initially 12.7 ± 0.1 lb BW) were used in a 41-d study to evaluate growth performance and immune response of nursery pigs fed diets containing increasing alpha-linolenic acids using O3 Trial Feed, a source of omega-3 fatty acids. At weaning, pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments with 5 pigs per pen and 14 replications per treatment. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments consisted of increasing levels (0, 1, 2, 3, or 4%) of O3 Trial Feed. This resulted in omega-6:3 fatty acid ratios ranging from approximately 25:1 to 4:1. Treatment diets were fed in 3 phases with phase 1 fed from d 0 to 13, phase 2 from d 13 to 22, and phase 3 from d 22 to 41. On d 25, two pigs per pen were injected with 20 μg of Eschrichia coli (E. coli) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) per kg BW and one pig per pen was injected with 2 mL of saline to serve as a control. Body temperature was recorded from the 3 pigs per pen prior to the injection (hour 0) and 2, 4, 6, and 12 h after injection. On d 25 a blood sample was collected 4 h post injection from pigs injected with the LPS challenge to determine IL-1β levels in the serum. For overall growth performance, there were no differences observed in ADG, ADFI, or F/G. Temperature increased at 2 h post LPS injection, then decreased as time from the LPS injection increased, but dietary treatment did not influence change in body temperature or IL-1β. These results indicate dietary alpha-linolenic acid levels did not influence growth performance or immune response to a LPS challenge.

Recommended Citation

Bromm, Jenna J.; Tokach, Mike D.; Woodworth, Jason C.; Goodband, Robert D.; DeRouchey, Joel M.; and Gebhardt, Jordan T. (2021) "Effects of Increasing Dietary Alpha-Linolenic Acids on Nursery Pig Growth Performance and Response to Immune Challenge," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 7: Iss. 11. https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.8180