Twelve groups of six littermate pigs, averaging 4.45 kg body weight, were used to study the effect of dietary protein on fat utilization. Added fat depressed feed intake and gains during the second week of the experiment, but feed:gain ratios were similar. During the third and fourth week of the experiment, rate of gain increased and feed:gain ratio was improved. Protein, dry matter and ether extract digestibility were greater after 4 weeks than after 2 weeks on experiment, and ether extract digestibility improved when lard was added to the diet. Rate of food passage and percentage carcass protein or ash were unaltered by time on experiment or dietary treatment. Percentage carcass fat decreased during the first 2 weeks of the experiment and increased during the second 2 weeks of the experiment. Increased dietary protein and fat did not affect the percentage carcass fat, but fat supplementation alone increased the percentage carcass fat. The baby pig seems to utilize calories from fat as well as those from carbohydrate, and the efficiency of calorie utilization increases with age.
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Leibbrandt et al. (1975) studied this question.