Calcium and Fat Interrelationships as Influences of Performance of Fattening Lambs

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Abstract
A growing-fattening experiment was conducted to compare performance of lambs when calcium and corn oil were added to rations containing corncobs or alfalfa hay. A series of experiments followed to study calcium, stabilized white grease and trace mineral interrelationships on performance of fattening lambs. The addition of 5% corn oil to a ration containing 40% alfalfa hay decreased feed required per pound of gain and increased carcass grade. Corn oil additions did not improve performance of lambs fed rations containing corncobs. Calcium carbonate additions did not significantly increase performance of lambs fed a corncob ration with or without added grease. The addition of 5% stabilized white grease to rations containing corncobs did not significantly influence rate of gain, feed consumption, efficiency of feed conversion, dressing percent or carcass grade. Blood lipid values increased with fattening of the lambs but were not appreciably changed by the feeding of grease. The feeding of large quantities of corn oil by stomach tube did not change total blood lipids in a 24 hr. period.