Effect of n-3 PUFA-rich fish oil supplementation during late gestation on kidding, uterine involution and resumption of follicular activity in goat

Reprod Domest Anim. 2019 Dec;54(12):1651-1659. doi: 10.1111/rda.13575. Epub 2019 Oct 28.

Abstract

We have shown that dietary supplementation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA)-rich fish oil (FO) around the breeding time improved the utero-ovarian functions in the goat. Here, we investigated the effect of FO supplementation during the periparturient period on serum n-3 PUFA, prostaglandin F metabolite (PGFM), placental expulsion, uterine involution, resumption of oestrus and neonatal vigour. Rohilkhandi goat in advanced gestation (n = 16) was divided into two equal groups. One group was supplemented with FO containing 26% n-3 long-chain PUFA at the rate of 156 mg per kg body weight, while the control group was fed isocaloric palm oil (PO) from -3 to +3 week of kidding. Dietary FO increased serum concentration of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by 7.3- and 6.6-fold, respectively, after 6 weeks of supplementation. Goats in FO group expelled the foetal membranes 99.1 min earlier (p < .01) than those of PO group. Further, dietary FO significantly decreased the serum PGFM on day 7 post-partum. However, no difference was found on uterine involution, which was complete by day 20 post-partum in either group. Resumption of follicular activity by day 5 post-partum was 87.5% in the FO as compared to 25% in the PO group (p < .05). Similarly, occurrence of behavioural oestrus by day 90 post-partum was 57.1% in goats of the FO group while none of does was in the PO group (p < .01) expressed oestrus. It was concluded that feeding FO-rich diet during -3 to +3 weeks of kidding decreased the PGFM till day 7 post-partum, hastened the expulsion of foetal membranes and reduced the time from kidding to first post-partum oestrus in Rohilkhandi does.

Keywords: fish oil; goat; kidding; n3-PUFA; post-partum; pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Veterinary

MeSH terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Dinoprost / blood
  • Estrus / drug effects
  • Extraembryonic Membranes / drug effects*
  • Extraembryonic Membranes / physiology
  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Fish Oils / chemistry
  • Fish Oils / pharmacology*
  • Goats*
  • Ovarian Follicle / drug effects*
  • Ovarian Follicle / physiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Uterus / drug effects*
  • Uterus / physiology

Substances

  • Fatty Acids, Omega-3
  • Fish Oils
  • Dinoprost