Effects of vegetable oil supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers

Abstract

The study was conducted to compare the vegetable oil supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics in broilers. A total of 150 day old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were divided into three treatment groups: T0 = Control (basal diet), T1: Soybean oil (basal diet + 2% soybean oil on DM basis), and T2: Palm oil (basal diet + 2% palm oil on DM basis) consisting of 5 replications having 10 birds in a completely randomized design. The results of this study showed that dietary vegetable oil supplementation increased average weekly live weight (AWLW) at 3rd, 4th, and 5th week of age (P<0.05). Although average weekly feed intake (AWFI) remained unchanged until the 2nd week, it was significantly reduced at the 4th and 5th week in both soybean and palm oil supplementation (P<0.05). Weekly feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broilers (feed/gain) decreased in soybean and palm oil supplementation and mostly in palm oil supplementation (P<0.05). Carcass characteristics of broiler meat remained unchanged in different treatment groups except for wing meat weight, dressed weight, drumstick meat weight, and digestive tract weight (P<0.05). The highest dressed weight (DW) was found in the soybean oil group compared to control and palm oil at the 5th week of age (P<0.05). Whereas increased digestive tract weight (DTW) was observed in soybean oil relative to the control and palm oil group (P<0.05). Net return (NR) and Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) were also higher in vegetable oil supplemented groups compared to control (P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation of vegetable oil increased growth performance, dressed weight, and profitability in broiler rearing.