Calcium salts of long chain fatty acids in Awassi ewe lambs’ diet: Effects on nutrient intake, digestibility, and blood metabolites

Abstract Objective was to improve the growth of ewe lambs so that they could be mated in their first year. Twenty-four Awassi ewe lambs were randomly assigned to one of three treatments. Treatments were: no Ca-LCFA (CON; the basal diet), basal diet+50 g/ewe day (50Ca-LCFA) or basal diet+100 g/ewe day (100Ca-LCFA) calcium salts of long chain fatty acids (Ca-LCFA). Nutrient intakes were similar ( P >0.05) among groups except for the ether extract (EE) and metabolizable energy (ME). Intake of EE was greater ( P P P P P P P P P >0.97) among groups. Calcium concentrations were the highest ( P P