Body Fat of Broiler Chickens Fed Diets with Two Fat Sources and Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Abstract

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of CLA association with two vegetable oil sources on the body fat of broiler chickens. Broilers were distributed in a completely randomized factorial design 2 x 5 (two oil sources, i.e. soybean or canola oil and five levels of CLA supplementation, i.e. 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 g/kg). For both sexes, supplementation with canola oil resulted in heavier birds (P<0.05) when compared to soybean oil. The effect of CLA supplementation on final body weight of female birds was significant and explained by a linear response (P<0.05). A linear reduction in abdominal fat pad content was observed on females receiving canola oil and CLA (P<0.05). Canola oil fed male and female birds had a reduction in relative liver weight (P<0.05) when compared to soybean oil fed birds. The supplementation of CLA resulted in lower relative liver weight in females birds fed canola oil when compared to that of females receiving soybean oil diets. Total serum cholesterol was lower (P<0.05) in females fed canola oil when compared to that of females fed soybean oil. Birds fed soybean oil had a higher (P<0.05) fat liver content than those birds receiving canola oil. These results confirm the observation of heavier (P<0.05) livers for birds receiving soybean oil in comparison with those receiving canola oil.