The comparative roles of polyunsaturated fatty acids in pig neonatal development.

The present review focuses on the importance of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) provision for the normal development of the pig neonate. The review describes first the selected fatty acid composition of a range of porcine tissues including nervous tissues, muscle and adipose tissues, reproductive organs and immune-responsive organs and/or cells. The importance of PUFA to the functioning of the immune system of the neonate is considered briefly and is followed by an in-depth consideration of the sources of PUFA for the neonatal pig. The effects of different categories or specific types of fatty acid (i.e. non-essential, linoleic, alpha-linolenic, long-chain n-6 and n-3 PUFA) on various indices of pig neonatal growth are reviewed. The importance of n-3 PUFA supply to the fetal and early neonatal pig is underlined and evidence is presented for more attention to be given to the amounts available from maternal sources. Based on the material reviewed, recommendations are made on the dietary intake of PUFA in the gestating pig.

The effect of dietary oil containing (n-3) fatty acids on the fatty acid, physicochemical, and organoleptic characteristics of pig meat and fat.

An investigation was made to alter the fatty acid composition of pork and a pork product in line with human dietary advice while not adversely affecting factors controlling consumer acceptability. Pigs (n = 150) were assigned to three dietary treatments with 25 intact male-female pairs per treatment. Diet A (control) contained 3% of a 4:1 (wt/ wt) tallow-soybean oil mixture. Diets B and C contained 2% rapeseed oil plus 1% fish oil. Diets A, B, and C were supplemented with 100, 100, and 250 mg of all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg of diet, respectively. Pigs were given ad libitum access to feed from 52 kg live weight until 95 kg (slaughter). Sausages were prepared from the resulting cuts. Tissues of pigs were evaluated in terms of fat firmness, color, fatty acid composition, and contents of alpha-tocopherol and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). Organoleptic characteristics of chops and sausages were evaluated by a trained taste panel. Pigs fed Diets B and C had improved feed conversion ratios (P < .05) and ADG compared with control pigs. The levels of n-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturates were significantly increased in the tissues and sausage from pigs fed Diets B and C with associated alterations in n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratios that accorded with contemporary human dietary recommendations. Levels of alpha-tocopherol and TBARS were significantly altered in the tissues. There were no appreciable differences between treatments in carcass characteristics, including color. The overall organoleptic acceptability of chops and sausages was not different between the treatments.