Plasma cholesterol levels in suckling and weaned calves,lambs, pigs and colts

Plasma cholesterol levels were determined in calves, lambs, and pigs at intervals from birth until after weaning. In each case the levels were low at birth, became elevated during the suckling period, and decreased as the animals began to eat solid feed. Results with calves fed skim milk indicated that milk lipids were largely responsible for the post-partum elevation of plasma cholesterol levels. Studies with early and late weaned pigs also indicated that the elevation of plasma cholesterol in suckling animals was related to diet rather than age. Sex and breed had no apparent effect on plasma cholesterol levels in these experiments. A limited number of observations in colts indicated that plasma cholesterol levels decreased between 2 and 7 months.