Abstract
Supplementation with fatty acids (FA) during late gestation regulates offspring development; however, its effect in the first third of gestation is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during the first third of gestation on productive performance and hypothalamic neuropeptides on the offspring. Seventy-nine post-weaning lambs, born of sheep supplemented in the first third of gestation with 1.5% Ca salts rich in monounsaturated FA (MUFA) or PUFA [DHA and EPA; Dam supplementation (DS)], were distributed in a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments to finishing diets containing MUFA or PUFA [Lamb supplementation (LS)]. The experiment last for 56 d. Measurements dry matter intake (daily), body weight and plasma metabolites (every 14 d) were taken. Twenty-four lambs were slaughtered and hypothalamus were obtained for mRNA concentration. The data were analyzed with a mixed model in SAS (9.4) using repeated measurements. There was a DS x LS interaction for BW (P < 0.10) where LS with PUFA born from DS with MUFA were heavier than the other 3 treatments. Lambs born from DS with MUFA have a greater DMI (P < 0.01). There was a time x DS effect (P < 0.05) for plasma glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) concentration, due to a greater concentration for glucose and lower for NEFA on the lambs born from DS-MUFA at weaning but not on d 56. Lambs born from MUFA supplemented dams had a greater (P ≤ 0.05) hypothalamus mRNA concentration for CART, GH-receptor, KISS-1, leptin receptor, POMC, and NPY receptor Y1. There were no LS effects (P > 0.05) for these neuropeptides. These results indicate that supplementation with fatty acids during early pregnancy change productive performance, metabolic, and neuropeptides of lambs independently of the final diet.