Dietary fat sources and exogenous emulsifiers and their effects on caloric value and production performance of broiler chickens and nursery pigs

Four studies were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fat sources and emulsifier supplementation on caloric value and performance of broiler chickens and weanling pigs. In Study 1, a total of 72 male, Cobb 500 broilers were used in a factorial experiment involving 3 dietary fat sources (intact fat, coconut oil and crude palm oil) and a lysophospholipid emulsifier. A basal diet consisting of 64.45% corn and 31.58% soybean meal (as-fed basis) was formulated. The experimental diets were formulated by mixing 95% of the basal diet with 5% (as-fed basis) of either coconut oil or crude palm oil, with or without emulsifier. Results showed that ATTD of fat in the diet was significantly higher when coconut oil is used as the fat source. Regardless of the source, supplementation of fats significantly improved the caloric value of the diets. The use of lysophospholipid emulsifier significantly improved the digestibility of fat and energy of the diets as well as the caloric values of both the diet and fat sources. In Study 2. a total of 1,400 broilers were randomly allotted to 14 dietary treatments, involving 7 diets and 2 fat sources (coconut oil and crude palm oil). Basal corn-soy diets were formulated to contain normal (based on nutrient recommendation for Cobb 500 broilers) and reduced (less 150 kcal/kg coming from the fat source only) ME levels then supplemented with 5 commercially available emulsifiers. Results showed that broilers fed diets with coconut oil as the fat source had better body weight gain, feed and caloric efficiency and higher profitability than those receiving crude palm oil. Emulsifiers had no significant effect on the performance of broilers. In Study 3, a total of 48 barrows (6.7 ± 1.06 kg) were used in a factorial experiment involving 6 dietary fat sources (intact fat, coconut oil, palm olein, tallow, and 2 blends) and glyceryl polyethyleneglycol ricinoleate emulsifier. A basal diet consisting of 73.57% corn and 22.00% soybean meal (as-fed basis) was formulated. The other diets were formulated by mixing 95% of the basal diet with 5% (as-fed basis) of either one of the dietary fat sources, with or without added emulsifier. Results showed addition of fats in the diets, regardless of origin, significantly increased the energy value and tended to improve the ATTD of the fat in the diet. Lastly, in Study 4, a total of 108 weanling pigs (8.69 not equal to 0.54 kg) were randomly allotted to 1 of 6 dietary treatments. Basal corn-soy diets were formulated to contain normal and reduced (less 100 kcal/kg) ME levels coming from the fat source then supplemented with 4 commercially available emulsifiers. Results showed that emulsifiers did not significantly affect the growth performance, caloric efficiency, diarrhea incidence, blood serum lipid profile and diet economics of weanling pigs.