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This study aimed to investigate the characteristic proteomic pattern of plasma from sows supplemented with low dietary ω6:ω3 fatty acids (FAs) ratio during gestation and lactation. Two dietary treatments (n = 8 each) comprised either a control ratio of ω6:ω3 FAs (CR, 13:1 during gestation and 10:1 during lactation) or a low ratio (LR, 4:1 during gestation and lactation) by adding soybean oil or linseed oil, respectively. High-resolution mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics was applied on plasma (n = 5 each) at day 108 of gestation (G108) and at the end of lactation (L-End), and a total of 379 proteins and 202 master proteins were identified. Out of these, four differentially abundant proteins between LR and CR samples at G108 may relate to serine-type endopeptidase inhibitor activity. Differentially abundant proteins in L-End versus G108 (12 up-regulated and 10 down-regulated) were positively correlated with the events that regulate plasma lipoproteins, stimulus- and defence-responses. These findings demonstrate the benefit of increased dietary ω3 FAs in modifying proteins involved in protective mechanisms against increased stresses in key life cycle phases in pigs. In addition, proteome changes from late gestation to late lactation disclosed the underlying mechanism of pigs in response to reproduction-related stimuli. SIGNIFICANCE: This study aimed to provide a proteomics insight into the beneficial effects of maternal diet supplementation with a low ω6:ω3 fatty acids ratio, based on previously reported performance and zootechnical data. The results suggest that a low dietary ω6:ω3 fatty acids ratio could enhance the cellular defence mechanisms against increased stresses and in particular to oxidative stress in sows during gestation and lactation, as reflected in proteomic changes of haptoglobin (HP), alpha-1-antitrypsin (SERPINA1) and serum amyloid P-component (APCS). Furthermore, significantly changed proteome profiles in sow plasma between late gestation and lactation phases have been revealed for the first time. This finding identified the adaptation mechanisms of sows to changing physiological events during reproduction., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Simple Summary: Primiparous sows are usually associated with poor lactation performance and low weaning weight piglets. Live yeast (LY) supplementation in gestation and lactation diets have been shown to improve sow health status, milk composition, and growth performance of suckling piglets. However, little is known about the carryover effects of LY supplementation during gestation and lactation on primiparous sows and their offspring. In the present study, LY supplementation significantly increased the serum concentrations of IgA and IgG of sows at farrowing and weaning stages, and of piglets at post-weaning on day 14 and 28. These results suggest that LY addition in the diets of gestating and lactating primiparous sows might improve the maternal and progeny health by increasing the immunity of sows and their offspring. The present study determined the effects of live yeast (LY) supplementation during middle–late gestation and the lactation period in primiparous sows on reproductive parameters, lactation performance, and immunity, and also explores the carryover effects in their offspring. On day (d) 60 of gestation, 16 crossbred primiparous sows were randomly assigned to two dietary treatments (with or without supplementation of 425 mg/kg of live yeast; LYT and CT, respectively) homogeneous for body weight (BW) and backfat thickness. Experimental diets were applied from day 60 of gestation to the end of lactation. At weaning, 60 piglets with an average BW of each treatment were selected based on their source litter and assigned to two groups corresponding to the original treatments received by their mothers. Each group had five replicates of six piglets each and was fed a basal diet for 42 days. The results showed that LY supplementation significantly increased the serum IgA and IgG concentrations of sows at farrowing and weaning stages, and of piglets on day 14 and 28 post weaning. No significant differences were found in reproductive and lactation performance, while minor effects were observed on antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, live yeast addition during middle–late gestation and the whole lactation period resulted in enhanced immunity of primiparous sows and their offspring, therefore, improving maternal and progeny health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Feeding maternal animals divergent ratios of omega-6 (ω6) and omega-3 (ω3) fatty acids can change not only their health, physiological condition, and performance but also do the same for their offspring. In swine production, various ω6:ω3 ratios have been tested, but the search for an optimal proportion in the sow diet is still in progress. For piglets, weaning oxidative stress has been alleviated by supplementing with abundant sources of bioactive compounds. In this case, brown seaweed, a rich source of natural antimicrobials and antioxidants, can be a good candidate, but its supplementation in piglet diet is limited. This study explores the hypothesis that feeding a low ω6:ω3 ratio diet to sows during gestation and lactation, together with the supplementation of Ascophyllum nodosum for piglets during the post-weaning period, could benefit piglets' performance and oxidative status more than the respective single treatment provided to the mother or the piglet. Results showed that the low dietary ω6:ω3 ratio (4:1) and seaweed supplement did not affect the post-weaning piglets' growth rate and oxidative status. However, a low ω6:ω3 ratio diet alone improved weaning survival rate, suckling piglets' weight gain, and total ω3 fatty acids in colostrum and milk. The ratio of omega-6 (ω6) to omega-3 (ω3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the diet contributes to animal health and performance modulations because they have mostly opposite physiological functions. Increasing ω3 PUFAs content in the maternal diet can stimulate antioxidative capacity in sow and piglets; however, the optimal ratio of ω6 and ω3 PUFAs in the sow diet is still under discussion. Rich sources of bioactive constituents such as brown seaweed are an excellent supplementation to promote animal health and antioxidant status. However, the knowledge of the effects of this compound, specifically in post-weaning piglets, is still limited. Moreover, the combined effect of a low ω6:ω3 PUFAs ratio in sow diet and seaweed supplementation in post-weaning piglets' diet has never been studied. This research aims to assess the combined effect of a low ω6:ω3 ratio in sow diets and seaweed supplementation in piglet diets on their growth and oxidative status. We also assessed the impact of a low ω6:ω3 ratio in the maternal diet on reproduction, milk fatty acid (FA) profile, and plasma leptin concentration. Two sow diets (n = 8 each) contained either a control ratio (CR, 13:1 during gestation, starting from day 28 (G28) and 10:1 during lactation) or a low ratio (LR, 4:1 from G28 until the end of lactation (L-End)) of ω6:ω3 FA by adding soybean oil or linseed oil, respectively. Reproductive performance was evaluated. Colostrum and milk at lactation day 7 (L7) and L-End were collected to analyze FA profile. Plasma was collected at G28, G79, G108, L7, L14, and L-End for determination of leptin and oxidative status. At weaning, 20 male piglets were selected per sow group to form 4 diet treatments (n = 10 each), which were supplemented with or without 4 g/kg seaweed. Recording of growth performance and collection of blood were performed at days 0, 7, 15, and 21 of post-weaning for oxidative status. LR diet increased (p < 0.05) the survival rate of piglets at weaning, and individual and litter weight gains. Colostrum and milk at L7 and L-End had lower (p < 0.05) ω6:ω3 ratio in LR sows. Interaction between dietary treatments on sows and piglets was revealed for all examined growth parameters at most time points (p < 0.05). LR diet did not affect plasma leptin levels and oxidative status. These findings suggest that the seaweed supplement during post-weaning could not improve growth rate and oxidative status of piglets born from mothers receiving a low dietary ω6:ω3 ratio (4:1) during gestation and lactation. However, this low ratio was beneficial for weaning survival rate, sucking piglets' weight gain, and ω3 enrichment in colostrum and milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]