The effects of omega-3 fatty acids in ration during gestation on mature performances of kids

The objectives of this study were investigate to effect of fish oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids in the maternal ration in different periods of gestation on fattening performance of male kids after weaning, performance of female kids between weaning and 6th month and mating and 2nd month of lactation, and growth performances of progeny born from these females. The use of fish oil in the ration during the gestation periods of the does decreased live weight change and feed intake, and did not affect the live weight and feed conversion rate of male kids during fattening. Also, it was determined increased serum AST, glucose, total protein and globulin concentrations, and hot and cold carcass weights in male kids. Decreased heptadecanoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, total mono and polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in M. longissimus dorsi muscle were determined. The use of fish oil in the ration during the gestation periods of the does increased the live weight and feed intake of female kids between weaning and 6 months. However, female kids born from does fed fish oil during the gestation period tended to have the lowest live weight when they reached mating age. After mating, there was no effect on gestation period, colostrum IgG level, live weight, milk yield and composition until the 10th week of lactation. Although the birth weights of the kids obtained by mating the female kids from the does used fish oil in their rations during the pregnancy period were similar, in terms of live weight on the 56th day, the kids of the female does born from the mothers fed with TMRs containing fish oil during pregnancy had the lowest live weight, the kids of the female does born from the mothers fed with TMRs containing fish oil in the first half of the gestation and with TMRs containing protected fat in the second half of gestation had the highest live weight. As a result, it can be said that the use of liquid fish oil as an omega-3 fat source in the nutrition of does during gestation may negatively affect the fetal development of male and female kids, but it has the ability to eliminate negativity by positively affecting post-weaning performance.