Fatty Acid Components of Ovine Tissue Lipids During Rumen Development

Abstract

The lipids from the liver, depot fat, heart, kidney, and skeletal muscle of young lambs has been separated into cholesterol ester, triglyceride, free fatty acid, and phospholipid fractions. Weights of these fractions and the fatty acid components of these lipids have been determined in lambs of varying ages covering the period from birth to nutritional independence. Results have been compared to the changes OCCUlTing in ovina plasma under the same conditions, and the interrelationships between the changes in the levels of these fractions in the various tissues have been discussed in relation to lipid metabolism and 'the development of an active rumen.