Full-Fat Soybean As An Energy Source In Broiler Chicken Diets

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to evaluate growth performance, carcass characteristics, some blood plasma parameters and economic efficiency of broiler chicks fed graded levels of full-fat soybean (FFS) in replacement of vegetable oil in starter and grower diets. Five levels of FFS representing 0.0% (control, T1), 2% (T2), 4% (T3), 8% (T4) and 10% (T5) were used during the starting period. While, during the growing period 0.0% (control, T1), 4% (T2), 6% (T3), 10% (T4) and 12% (T5) were used to replace soybean oil in the five dietary treatments. In the same manner, control diet was formulated to contain 2% and 4% soybean oil in starter and grower diets, respectively. 150 unsexed one day-old Hubbard broiler chicks were distributed equally into 5 dietary treatments in 3 replicates of 10 birds each. The experiment lasted 5 weeks; feed and water were supplied ad-libitum. At the end of the experiment, 3 birds from each treatment were randomly selected and slaughtered for carcass characteristics. Main results obtained can be summarized as follows: 1. Chicks fed lowest levels of FFS (2% in starter and 4% in grower in replacement of soybean oil, T2) recorded growth performance equal to that of chicks fed the control diet (T1 without FFS). However, these birds recorded lower values of plasma cholesterol and improved the economical efficiency by 14% as compared to the control diet. 2. Significant differences were observed among different experimental groups in productive performance (at starter period only), carcass characteristics except for values of lymphoid organs %, wing % and drum stick % and some blood plasma parameters. 3. Chicks fed highest levels of FFS (10% in starter and 12% in grower, T5 diet) recorded the highest values of growth performance as compared to other treatments and supported the calculated economical efficiency by 33% as compared to the control diet.