Effects of supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids to gilts on subsequent reproductive performance and growth performance of their litters

Dietary supplementation of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) during gestation and/or lactation is reported to increase litter size in pigs (Spencer et al., 2004; Webel et al., 2003) and is believed to be beneficial for reproductive performance in sows (Webel et al., 2004). However, results are inconsistent. This study re-assessed the effects of n-3 PUFA supplementation to gilts during late gestation and lactation on the subsequent reproductive performance and the growth performanc