WEIGHT GAIN AND METABOLIC PROFILE IN LAMBS FED DIET CONTAINING PROTECTED FAT

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of protected fat over the weight gain and the metabolic blood profile in lambs. 14 Santa Ines sheep were  required, from weaning until 174 days old, and complete casuistic lineation was obtained by seven repetitions (in animals), two different treatments (one diet containing protected fat and another one, without it), and two different collected data times (one at the beginning and the other at the end of experiments). The biochemistry analysis included glucose, urea, triglycerides, and cholesterol. A 5% protected fat portion didn’t advance any positive effects over weight gain. No variations were detected in glucose rates, and triglycerides varied equally in groups, due to physiological modifications in such species. Plasma urea was a good indicator of methabolic energetic values as well as cholesterol, which showed the fat intake on such diet. A 5%  protected fat proportion on the diet didn’t have any positive effects over the weight gain. The inclusion of protected fat was more efficient metabolically in comparison to the group without it.      KEY-WORDS: biochemistry, performance, megalac®, sheep.