Aim: A biological trial was
conducted for a period of seven weeks to study the effect of graded levels of
tallow (saturated) and sunflower oil (un saturated) or combination of both on
the production performance, carcass characteristics, serum and meat cholesterol
level in broilers.
Materials and Methods: The experimental feeds were
prepared by the addition of tallow (2% and 4%) and sunflower oil (2% and 4%)
either alone or in combination of both (SF oil 1% + tallow 1% and SF oil 2% +
tallow 2%).
Results: Neither the fat source (sunflower oil or tallow) nor
their combinations had influenced the growth rate, feed consumption, feed
efficiency, livability and carcass characteristics in broilers. However, at 49
days of age, broilers fed with tallow alone had higher (P<0.01) abdominal fat
than the rest of the treatment groups. When compared to control and tallow alone
fed groups, the broilers fed with sunflower oil alone and mixture of sunflower
oil and tallow had significantly (P<0.01) lower total serum and meat cholesterol
level.
Conclusion: The data suggest that the abdominal fat yield, serum
and meat total cholesterol level of commercial broilers are inversely
proportional to the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet.
Keywords: broilers, carcass characters, serum and meat cholesterol,
sunflower oil, tallow
