Addition of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids to Lamb Diets: Effects on Performance, Rumen Characteristics, Blood and Carcass Parameters

Abstract

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) supplementation on feed intake, animal performance, rumen characteristics, blood lipid metabolites, and carcass parameters in Kivircik lambs. Lambs were allocated into three groups (eight lambs/treatment) and the experimental groups were as follows: Control, 10MCFA (1.0 g MCFA/kg feed) and 18MCFA (1.8 g MCFA/kg feed). On days 0, 28, and 56, lambs were weighed and rumen and blood samples were collected, and all lambs were slaughtered on day 56. According to the results obtained in the present study, animal performance was not affected by the dietary treatment (p > .05). There was no difference in rumen pH but the concentrations of rumen ammonia (on day 56) and propionic acid level (on days 28 and 56) were lower in 18 MCFA lambs measured at 3 hours after feeding (p > .05). Under the conditions and duration of this study, supplementing diets with MCFA did not affect lamb performance and carcass parameters but affected rumen fermentation parameters.