Effect of Non-oxidized and Oxidized Soybean Oil Supplemented with Two Levels of Antioxidant on Broiler Performance

A study was designed to determine the effects on broiler performance of two levels of antioxidant (ethoxyquin) in poultry rations containing two levels of oxidized and non-oxidized soybean oil. One hundred and eighty, day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into six experimental groups comprising thirty chicks on each treatment. Six experimental rations having 2% nonoxidized soybean oil, 2% and 3% oxidized soybean oil, all three supplemented with normal (125 g/t) or higher (175 g/t) level of ethoxyquin, were formulated for both starter (0-28 days) and finisher (29-42 days) phases. These rations were randomly fed to six experimental groups having 30 birds on each ration and three replicates on each treatment. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of chicks fed 2% non-oxidized and 2% oxidized soybean oil were statistically non-significant. Weight gain in groups fed 3% oxidized oil was significantly lower than non-oxidized group while FCR was significantly lower than both groups. Weight gain in the higher level ethoxyquin group was significantly better than lower level, while feed intake and FCR were statistically non-significant in both levels of ethoxyquin. Acid and Thiobarbituric Acid (TBA) values in the three groups differed significantly with the lower in non-oxidized group and highest in the 3% oxidized group. Higher level of ethoxyquin significantly lower acid and TBA values compared to lower level of ethoxyquin. Thus it can be concluded that oxidation of oil reduces its feeding value and that the addition of ethoxyquin is beneficial.