The Effect of Feeding High Energy Diets Containing Supplemental Fat on Broiler Weight Gain, Feed Efficiency, and Carcass Composition

Abstract

We studied the effect of feeding two levels of energy in starter diets [3135 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg low energy and 3410 kcal ME/kg high energy] from 0 to 28 days and finishing diets (3190 kcal ME/kg low energy and 3465 kcal ME/kg high energy) from 28 to 56 days upon broiler weight gain, feed conversion, feed consumption, calorie consumption, and abdominal fat content Feed conversion of male and female broilers fed the high energy starter diet from 0 to 28 days or the high energy finisher diet from 28 to 56 days was superior (P<.05) compared to feed conversion of broilers fed the low energy starter and finisher diet. The weight gain of male and female broilers from 0 to 28 days was not affected (P>.05) by diet; however, weight gain during the 28 to 56 day feeding period demonstrated a sex-diet interaction (P<.05). The males fed the low energy starter and finishing diets gained more weight (P<.05) during the 28 to 56 day period than males fed a high energy finishing diet. The males fed the low energy finishing diet consumed 16 g/day more feed (P<.05) and 18 kcal/day more metabolizable energy than males fed the high energy finishing diet Females fed the low energy finishing diet consumed 9 g additional feed per day (P<.05) but the energy consumption was the same. Male broilers fed the low energy starter and finishing diets and female broilers fed the high energy starter and finishing diets contained slightly increased amounts of abdominal fat compared to the same sex fed different diet combinations; however, differences were nonsignificant (P>.05). A sex-diet interaction was observed (P<.05) for regressed abdominal fat weight on live body weight.