The influence of maternal dietary fat on the fatty acid composition and lipid metabolism in the subcutaneous fat of progeny pigs.

To investigate the influence of maternal dietary fat intake on the fatty acid composition and lipid metabolism of progeny subcutaneous fat (SQ), fourteen sows were randomly assigned to a control or high fat (HF) group which received a diet containing 8% corn oil starting seven days before farrowing until weaning. The results showed the fatty acid composition in progeny SQ at weaning age generally demonstrated a similar pattern with the sow milk. However, this pattern was not observed at the finishing stage. The stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 mRNA and protein levels in the progeny SQ of the HF group decreased at both sampling stages when compared with controls. The study demonstrated that maternal dietary fat during lactation significantly affected the fatty acid composition of progeny SQ at the weaning stage, yet no obvious lasting effect was observed in progeny SQ at the finishing stage.