THE EFFECT OF PALM OIL SUPPLEMENTATION IN ISOCALORIC AND ISONITROGENOUS DIETS OF BROILERS

A study was carried out to investigate the effect of palm oil supplementation on the growth, carcass composition and fatty acid distributions of the broilers fed isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets. This study showed that palm oil supplementation increased feed consumption, weight gain and nitrogen intake. Feed conversion improved at higher fat inclusions, but not significant. Male birds consumed significantly more feed than females resulting in significant increase in energy consumption and weight gain. Increaseing fat content in the ME:P constant diet did not produce significant difference in the fat content of the chicken. Fatty acids content of the diet exert varying effects of the composition and distribution of fatty acids in muscles of the chicken. The fatty acids found in larger amount in the breast and thigh muscles were palmitic, oleic and linoleic. The fatty acids of the breast and thigh muscles were found to correspond the fatty acids of the diets. There were no differences in the fatty acids distribution patterns between the sexes.