Fatty Acid Composition of Carcass, Heart, Liver, and Blood Lipids in Young Lambs Fed Diets Containing Vegetable or Animal Fats

Abstract

Thirty-two crossbred twin lambs were weaned at 3 days of age and artificially reared, for a period of 8 weeks, on milk substitutes containing either tallow or corn oil, at the rate of 26.6% on a dry matter basis. Six additional lambs, twins of six of the artificially reared animals, were left with their dams and used as controls. Lambs fed tallow had legs of lamb which contained more fat (P < 0.01) than those fed corn oil; however, lambs fed corn oil had fatter livers (P < 0.01). On the contrary, the fat content of heart tissues was not influenced by the type of fat consumed. Fatty acid composition of lipids extracted from the leg of lamb, heart, and liver, in general, reflected the fatty acid composition of the dietary fat. Constituent fatty acids of plasma lipids were found in proportions which were also influenced by the type of fat consumed.