Nutrition: Flax oil can help improve fatty acid profile for sows and litters

Research suggests that supplementing sow diets with flax seed or flax seed oil during the last trimester of gestation can increase the fatty acid composition of plasma and milk of sows, and of piglet tissues

by JANICE MURPHY

Flax has long been recognized for its medicinal properties. In the past, it has been used to alleviate constipation in sows at farrowing, but there is growing interest in the effects of the omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids alter immune and inflammation responses which, when coupled with the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, have a positive effect on sow productivity and the health of the piglets.

Better Pork - December 2009