[Supplementation with oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet of pigs in the nursery phase: effects on performance, inflammatory response, lipid profile and oxidative "status"]

ABSTRACT

In production systems, natural products have been outstanding in replacing synthetic products, among them, we can highlight the vegetable oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that are popularly known for their beneficial effects. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) and sunflower (Helianthus annus) oil supplementation on nursery physiological parameters. We used 180 piglets housed in a commercial farm, distributed in 3 groups (n=60) according to food supplementation: pequi oil, sunflower oil and negative control. Blood samples and animal weight were obtained at intervals of four nursery phase rations to evaluate performance, inflammatory response, lipid profile and oxidative status. The physiological parameters measured showed that the oils positively interfered in the systemic inflammatory response through total leukocytes and neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio (P<0.05), in the oxidant-antioxidant balance by measuring nitric oxide and malondialdehyde (P<0.05). and lipid metabolism with the assessment of total cholesterol and triglycerides (P<0.05). On the other hand, these vegetable oils interfered with weight gain and feed intake (P<0.05). Thus, it can be concluded that supplementation with pequi and sunflower oils improves animal health, but has a negative impact on the piglet's performance in the nursery phase.

Keywords:
natural products; zootechnical parameters; animal health