Effect of calcium soaps of tallow on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Pelibuey lambs

The effects of diets with different levels of calcium soaps of tallow (CST), given as rumen-protected lipids, were examined on growth performance and carcass characteristics by Pelibuey lambs. Twenty intact male Pelibuey lambs weighing 19.0 ± 2.1 kg were allocated in individual pens for a 60-day feeding trial, and were assigned randomly into four treatment diets (five lambs per diet): diets contained 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5% CST, respectively. All diets were formulated to contain 14% CP and 2.6 Mcal ME/kg DM. At the end of the trial, carcass images were recorded in the last intercostal space (12th–13th left ribs) using ultrasound to measure the area of the Longissimus dorsi muscle and subcutaneous fat. Daily dry matter intake (1010, 1096, 1094 and 1012 g, respectively), average daily gain (219, 270, 245 and 212 g, respectively) and feed efficiency (4.7, 4.2, 4.7 and 4.8, respectively) were similar (P > 0.05) between lambs fed all diets. Moreover, subcutaneous fat (0.5, 0.5, 0.5 and 0.5 cm, respectively) and L. dorsi area (6.2, 6.5, 5.8 and 5.8 cm2, respectively) showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between lambs fed the four diets. In conclusion, growth performance or carcass characteristics of Pelibuey lambs were not influenced by the inclusion of different levels of calcium soaps of tallow in diets. Because of this, calcium soaps of tallow represent an alternative high-energy ingredient for use in sheep feedlot diets.