Monogastrics – effect of calcium on fatty acid digestibility

Saturated free fatty acids hydrolysed from the sn-1 and sn-3 position can easily form calcium salts in high calcium diets. Hence, oils with a greater proportion of these fatty acids in the sn-1 and sn-3 positions will show lower digestibility than those oils where the saturated fatty acids are predominantly on the sn-2 position as monoglycerides. This is especially relevant to laying hens where high calcium diets are offered for forming egg shells.