Effect of Dietary Linoleic Acid on Fatty Acid Composition of Egg Yolk, Liver and Adipose Tissue

Abstract

THE polyunsaturated fatty acids: linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids were first recognized by Burr and Burr (1930) to possess biopotency in curing or preventing the fat-deficiency produced by the rigid exclusion of fat from the diet. More recent studies using vegetable oil as the source of dietary linoleic acid have shown that linoleic acid was essential for optimum performance of laying hens. Improved egg weight and rate of egg production by hens after the addition of corn oil to both practical and semi-purified diets were shown by Jensen et al. (1958). It was later referred to as the unidentified factor necessary for maximum egg weight by Schutze et al. (1962). Further investigations (Shutze and Jensen, 1963; Menge et al., 1965), suggested that the linoleic acid in corn oil was essential for maximum egg production, egg weight, fertility and hatchability. It was concluded, however, by Harms and Waldroup (1963) and Blamberg…