Effect of dietary coconut oil supplementation on some blood biochemical indices in yearling rams

Abstract

The research set out to examine how adding coconut oil to the diet of yearling rams affected a number of
clinically significant biochemical variables in their blood. The experiment used nine male Blackhead Pleven
yearling rams, with an average starting weight of 45.2 kg. A two-period experimental design was used. The
first group of yearling rams were given 1 kilogram of barley and 1 kg of grass hay (ration I) during the first
period. The second group got 0.800 kg of barley, 0.200 kg of sunflower meal, and 1 kg of grass hay (ration
II). The third group also received 0.800 kg of barley, 0.200 kg of sunflower expeller, and 1 kg of grass hay
(rating III). As part of the morning feeding routine throughout the trial, all groups received 0.02 kg of
coconut oil via cannulas. Including coconut oil in ration II led to higher blood total and HDL cholesterol 2.5
hours after consumption (p<0.001). Despite the increased rumen lipid content, serum triglyceride levels in
animals given Rations I and II were unaffected. Coconut oil significantly reduced blood ASAT activity in
all three diets, both before and after feeding (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively). Animals given ration II had
a reduction in serum alkaline phosphatase both before (p<0.001) and after feeding (p<0.05) after the addition
of coconut oil.