Effect of Various Triglycerides on Blood and Tissue Cholesterol of Calves

Blood and tissue cholesterol responses were measured in six groups of four calves each fed for 24 weeks reconstituted nonfat dry fat milk in which 30% of calories was derived from one of the following: soybean oil (SBO), beef tallow (T), medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), and 1:1 soybean-oil tallow (SBO/T) combination. Two groups of four calves each also were fed SBO-milk plus dry feed and T-milk plus dry feed, respectively. Blood cholesterol concentration was significantly greater in SBO-fed calves than in T-fed calves. Calves fed MCT-milk had significantly lower blood cholesterol than calves fed T- or SBO-milk. Significant differences in cholesterol concentration were noted for the liver, perianal fat, and for omental fat.