Effects of feeding formaldehyde-treated oilseed supplements to sheep on pasture

In three trials with 10, 10, and 8 8- to 10-month-old sheep respectively, effects of methods of management and of ration components on consumption of protected lipid supplements containing high concentrations of polyunsaturated fats were assessed. Intakes of a series of rations when they were all available simultaneously to a group of sheep, and accumulation of linoleic acid in biopsy samples of adipose tissue were measured. Highest average linoleic acid level in any of the trials was 8.6% (s.e. 1.2) (after 40 days' feeding). Because sheep showed little interest in the supplement when offered alone, and because pasture availability had to be restricted to achieve appreciable consumption of supplement, the feeding of protected lipid supplements to sheep on pasture is unlikely to be useful under commercial conditions.