Effects of free capric acid, lauric acid, and coconut oil supplementation on performance, carcass, and some blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effects of the addition of free capric (decanoic, C10:0) and lauric (dodecanoic, C12:0) acids and coconut (Cocos nucifera) oil to the broiler diets on performance, carcass yield, internal organ weights and some blood parameters. A total of 144 day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in the study, and four main groups were formed with four subgroups containing equal number of chicks. The control (C) group was fed with basal diet without any supplementation and the experimental groups were fed with 0.4% free capric acid (CA)-, lauric acid (LA)-, and coconut oil (CO)-supplemented basal diets and feeding was continued for 42 days. At the end of the process, the total average live weight (LW) of C, CA, LA, and CO groups reached 3048.63, 3009.88, 3052.13, and 3060.71 g, respectively. Moreover, average live weight gains (LWG) of groups were 3004.34, 2965.53, 3007.84, and 3015.82 g; average feed intakes (FI) were 4427.34, 4405.15, 4353.89, and 4375.54 g, and feed efficiency (FE) were 1.48, 1.50, 1.46, and 1.46. Average LW, LWG, FI, and FE values were similar at the end of the experiment (p > 0.05). From the carcass parameters, relative carcass rates and also carcass, bursa of Fabricius, pancreas, spleen, and gizzard weights were similar between the groups (p > 0.05). However, there were statistically significant changes in heart and liver weights between the groups; they were the lowest in the CA group and the highest in the LA group. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of serum biochemical parameters (p > 0.05). However, there were significant differences between the groups in terms of serum CK, Ca, and P values, and these values were the highest in the group fed with coconut oil. In conclusion, it is possible to state that the use of free capric acid, lauric acid, and coconut oil at the rate of 0.4% did not cause any significant difference in broiler performance, carcass, and serum biochemical parameters, but also no adverse effects were observed. It has been shown that feeding with coconut oil can significantly increase dissolved calcium and phosphorus in serum and affect their metabolism in the body and can also be an important antioxidant food additive for broiler with its effect of increasing the total antioxidant status (TAS) value.