Influence of different sources of oil on performance, meat quality, gut morphology, ileal digestibility and serum lipid profile in broilers

This study examined the effect of palm oil (PO), sunflower oil (SO) and their combinations on the growth performance, meat quality, intestinal morphology, ileal digestibility and blood plasma lipid profile of broilers. A total of 144-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb-500) were randomly assigned to basal diets supplemented with either T-1, 6% PO (control); T-2, 4% PO + 2% SO; T-3, 2% PO + 4% SO or T-4, 6% SO fed for six weeks. Birds fed SO and the combination of SO and PO had greater (p < .05) body weight gain and feed efficiency compared to control (PO) birds at 1-21 days, and no differences were found among T-2 -T-4 treatments. Fat type had no significant effect on birds' performance at 22-42 days and meat quality. Birds fed SO and the combination of SO and PO had greater (p < .05) duodenum and ilium length as well as higher fat digestibility than the control birds. The control diet raised blood plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein than other treatments. It is concluded that feeding a combination of saturated (PO) and unsaturated (SO) oil sources altered the blood lipid profile, and increased nutrient digestibility and performance without conceding the meat quality in broilers.