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In June 2024, the first monograph in the field of animal lipid nutrition,Animal Lipid Science, which was organized and planned by CALID, was officially launched for online sales.
This article will focus on Chapter 7, Sections I-II of Animal Lipid Science.
Lipids, as one of the six nutrients, are the basis of life activities. The close relationship between farming and lipids is reflected in the three aspects of enhancing the economic efficiency of animal farming, improving animal health and improving the quality of animal products.
For example, intramuscular fat content is closely related to meat flavor, tenderness and juiciness; animal products rich in specific nutritional functions can be produced by enriching exogenous fatty acids.
Lipids can also play a key role in the breeding of breeding pigs, piglets and fattening pigs.
Chapter 7 of Animal Lipid Science provides a systematic overview of the effects of short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acids and fatty acid balance on intestinal health, immune function, and more in breeding pigs, piglets, and growing and fattening pigs.
Section I. Lipid Nutrition in Breeding Pigs
Studies have shown that fatty acids have varying degrees of influence on sow farrowing performance, lactation performance, and on boar semen quality.
Acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid in short-chain fatty acids can be used by the mammary gland as precursors for lipid synthesis. Medium-chain fatty acids are converted into breast milk, which can rapidly provide energy for piglets and significantly improve their growth rate and survival; the fatty acid content composition of pig milk is significantly influenced by the fatty acid content composition of the diet.
Combining the results of several experiments (see the inner pages of Animal Lipid Science), it can be seen that the fatty acid composition of spermatozoa is significantly altered by continuous feeding of n-3 PUFA-enriched diets for more than 6 weeks; an n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio of 6.6 increased the proportion of spermatozoa n-3 PUFA by 19.02%.
Section II Lipid Nutrition in Piglets
Short-chain fatty acids and piglets
Short-chain fatty acids can promote piglet intestinal development and maintain the intestinal mucosal barrier; reduce piglet intestinal pH and improve intestinal microbial structure; short-chain fatty acids are essential for regulating piglet intestinal immune response.
Several studies (see inside Animal Lipid Science) have shown that the addition of 0.075% to 0.1% glycerol butyrate to diets is effective in improving the growth performance of weaned piglets, as well as improving intestinal health and alleviating diarrhea.
Medium-chain fatty acids and piglets
Supplementing piglets with medium-chain fatty acids can satisfy their energy supply from birth to pre- and post-weaning, relieve environmentally induced stress, and maintain piglet growth. 
Medium-chain fatty acids can maintain the integrity of porcine intestinal mucosa, regulate the balance of intestinal microorganisms in piglets and modulate immune function.
The results of several studies (see Inside Animal Lipid Science) indicate that the addition of medium-chain fatty acids to piglet diets increases average daily gain.
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