Abdominal Fat of Broilers as Influenced by Dietary Level of Animal Fat

Abstract

In an attempt to determine the effect of dietary energy source on the quantity of abdominal fat in broilers, three levels of dietary animal fat (4, 7, and 10%) in isocaloric and iso-nitrogenous diets were fed in place of a carbohydrate energy source. Three trials were conducted. As dietary animal fat increased, the amount of abdominal fat in broilers increased under both a moderate- and a high-temperature rearing regimen. However, as dietary animal fat increased, the body weight gain in broilers tended to increase. It is possible that the benefits of increased growth outweigh the disadvantages of increased abdominal fat when dietary fat is added. Data are presented to provide the industry with figures to help in this decision.