Combination of linseed and palm oils is a better alternative than single oil for broilers exposed to high environmental temperature

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of combination of linseed oil (rich in omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, omega3 PUFA) and palm oil (rich in saturated fatty acid, SFAs) on the growth performance, meat quality, and fatty acid composition of birds under high environmental temperature. Experiment was conducted in summer (average high temperature 31degC). Birds in the positive temperature control group (PTC) and negative temperature control group (NTC) were fed with maize-soybean meal-maize gluten basal diet, the other 4 experimental groups were fed with basal diets containing linseed oil (LO), palm oil (PO), or their combination at the ratio of 3:2 (linseed oil/palm oil, w/w, group LPI) or 2:3 (group LPII), respectively. Results showed that the NTC deleteriously affect the growth performance, carcass quality and fatty acid composition of chickens than PTC group. The growth performance of birds under high environmental temperature was improved by oil supplementation. Furthermore, the combination of both oils achieved a better growth performance than the single oil during 22 to 42 d. Compared with NTC group, the yields of breast, leg and carcass were significantly improved in group LPI. Fatty acid composition of meat was significantly modified by dietary oil, and PUFA, especially omega3 PUFA in meat was increased by linseed oil (P<0.05). However, the MUFA and SFA contents in meat were not positively correlated with their contents in diet. Birds fed with combined oil at the ratio of 2:3 (w/w) achieved better economic results. It was concluded that the combination of linseed and palm oils at 2:3 (w/w) in chicken diets had more positive effect on growth performance, enhanced the n-3 PUFA content in meat, and economically better than single dietary oil.