Two studies determining the effect of hydrolysed fatty acids (hfa) on performance of broiler chickens fed corn-based diets for 49 days

Introduction

The feed intake of birds fed a mix of fatty acids is usually higher than for a maize-based diet (Onwudike, 1986; Ezieshi & Olomu, 2004; Sundu et al., 2005) as well as the improvement of immunity (Fernandez et al., 2000; 2002). A pre-treatment on fatty acid is necessary before it can be used as poultry feed and the hydrolysis is one of that to improve digestibility and isolate some specific length of chain fatty acids (Mohd Jaafar et al., 1997). The objective of these studies was to compare the effect of different levels of a specific combination of hydrolysed fatty acids compared with a negative control when included in-feed on the performance of broiler chickens up to 49 days of age.

Materials & Methods

These studies were a randomized block design with blinding; to determine the effects on feed intake and growth rate in broiler chickens feeding different levels of HFA. The broilers were reared under normal floor pen production conditions. Both studies were conducted in floor pen facilities in Colorado.
Birds were weighed at four time points: 7, 21, 35 and 49 days of age. All feed offered and weighed back was recorded when the birds were weighed.

Study 1
This study evaluated four levels of HFA (0.00%, 0.08%, 0.14% and 0.20%). The study consisted of four treatments with 40 pens per treatment (20 female and 20 male pens) in one barn. The pens were standardized to either 14 male or 14 female Ross 708 broiler chickens at day 7 of the study.

Study 2
This study evaluated five levels of HFA (0.00%, 0.20%, 0.30%, 0.40% and 0.50%). The study consisted of five treatments with 50 pens per treatment (25 in each of two barns). The pens were standardized to 14 (7 male and 7 female) Ross 708 broiler chickens at day 7of the study.

Results & Discussion

Average Daily Gain (ADG) and Feed Conversion Rate (FCR) - Study 1
By the Study 1 (Table 1), the ADG during the starter and grower periods was significantly improved by 0.14% HFA. The improvements were approximately 1.5% greater than control for the starter and grower phases. Also, during the starter phase, there was a significant treatment x gender interaction. Doses of 0.08 and 0.14% HFA significantly improved FCR in males during the starter period by 1.6 to 2.3% compared to controls.

Table 1. Average Daily Gain (g) and Feed Conversion Rate - Study 1

	Average Daily Gain	Feed Conversion Rate
HFA Inclusion Rate	7-21 days	21-35 days	35-49 days	0-49 days	7-21 Days	21-35 days	35-49 days	0-49 days
Male	Female
1.- 0,00%	28.07	86.72	83.44	59.51	1.373	1.354	1.558	2.183	1.754
2.- 0,08%	28.39	87.37	83.42	59.73	1.351^a	1.358	1.555	2.200	1.755
3.- 0,14%	28.47^a	88.17^a	83.35	59.96	1.351^a	1.360	1.557	2.196	1.753
4.- 0,20%	28.14	86.42	83.88	59.56	1.362	1.352	1.554	2.183	1.753

^{a Different from control at P<0.10.}

Average Daily Gain (ADG) Feed Conversion Rate (FCR) - Study 2
By the Study 2 (Table 2) the overall 0-49 day ADG was significantly reduced by HFA 0.3 and 0.5% doses. ADG was approximately 1% lower than the negative control for these treatment groups. ADG was also reduced during the grower phase by HFA 0.3 and 0.5%. In addition, HFA 0.3% reduced ADG during the finisher phase. The overall 0-49 day FCR was significantly improved by all doses of HFA. Feed Conversion Rate improved 1.2 to 2.0 points compared to negative control (i.e. a 0.012 to 0.02 unit change in FCR). Improvements during the starter and finisher phase were also noted.

Table 2. Average Daily Gain (g) and Feed Conversion Rate - Study 2

	Average Daily Gain		Feed Conversion Rate
HFA Inclusion Rate	7-21 days	21-35 days	35-49 days	0-49 days	7-21 days	21-35 days	35-49 days	0-49 days
1.- 0,00%	30.03	85.32	85.77	60.37	1.385	1.606	2.204	1.786
2.- 0,20%	29.95	84.76	84.88	59.97	1.370^a	1.603	2.178^a	1.771^a
3.- 0,30%	29.94	84.28^a	84.45^a	59.68^a	1.360^a	1.605	2.185	1.771^a
4.- 0,40%	29.80	84.85	85.10	59.99	1.361^a	1.603	2.181^a	1.771^a
5.- 0,50%	29.72	84.30^a	84.91	59.79^a	1.358^a	1.604	2.171^a	1.768^a

^{a Different from control at P<0.10.}

Breast Weight and Yield Percentage - Study 1
Among the results presented in Table 3, for male birds, HFA 0.14% increased Average Breast Weight and % Breast Yield. The increase in Average Breast Weight for males ranged from 3.3 to 4.3%. Percent Breast Yield increased approximately 2.1%. For female birds, HFA 0.08% increased these variables. Average Breast Weight increased 2.7% and % Breast Yield increased 1.8%.

Table 3. Breast weight (kg) and percent yield - Study 1

	Breast Weight, Male	Breast Weight, Female	% Yield, Male	% Yield, Female
1.- HFA 0,00%	0.670	0.627	28.91	31.33
2.- HFA 0,08%	0.674	0.643^a	28.99	31.90^a
3.- HFA 0,14%	0.699^a	0.627	29.52^a	31.31
4.- HFA 0,20%	0.680	0.623	29.25	31.54

^{a Different from control at P<0.10.}

Breast Weight and Yield Percentage - Study 2
Percent breast yield was significantly improved by HFA 0.5% and the increase was approximately 1.1% compared to negative control for this treatment groups (Table 4).

Table 4. Breast weight (kg) and percent yield - Study 2

	Breast Weight	% Yield
1.- HFA 0,00%	0.647	29.65
2.- HFA 0,20%	0.645	29.86
3.- HFA 0,30%	0.642	29.69
4.- HFA 0,40%	0.644	29.64
5.- HFA 0,50%	0.645	29.97^a

^{a Different from control at P<0.10.}

Average Leg Weight and percent (%) Leg Yield and Average Hot Carcass Weight
By the Study 1, there were no treatment differences although percent leg yield decreased (0.9%) in 0.08% HFA. The hot carcass weight increased (1.2%) in HFA 0.14%; numerically lower for high HFA dose. To the Study 2, there was no treatment differences for leg yield and the hot carcass weight decreased (1.3%) in HFA 0.50%; numerically lower than controls for all other treatment groups.

The present results of weight gain and feed conversion rate were similar of those demonstrated by Skrivan et al. (2010), where dose of 0.25% of medium-chain fatty acid were enough to present a positive performance impact. The hydrolysis of the fatty acids is benefic in terms of fat utilization (Bregendahl, 2006) and may explain the results of performance achieved.

Conclusions

The inclusion of a specific combination of hydrolysed fatty acids in the diets of broiler chickens showed increased average breast weight and percent breast yield in males with 0.14% HFA, while 0.08% HFA improved both carcasses variables in females. Average hot carcass weight was improved by HFA at 0.14% in both genders. Small reductions in ADG were showed for the treatment doses 0.3 and 0.5%, but all doses significantly improved feed conversion rate. All Study 2 doses decreased average daily feed intake by 1.5 - 2%. There were no treatment differences in breast weight, but breast yield was improved by 0.5% HFA. No differences were observed in average hot carcasses weight with the exception of a decrease at the 0.5% HFA level. There were no treatment-related differences in mortality overall or during any time period of the study.

Bibliography

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Mohd Jaafar MD, Samad N, Rasol S. 1997. Proc. of the 19th Malaysian Soc. Anim. Prod. Johor Bahru. pp. 137-138.

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Skřivan M, Dlouhá G, Englmaierová M, Červinková K. 2010. Effects of different levels of dietary supplemental caprylic acid and vitamin E on performance, breast muscle vitamin E and A, and oxidative stability in broilers. Czech J. Anim. Sci. 55(4):167-173.

Sundu B, Kumar A, Dingle J. 2005. Response of birds fed increasing levels of palm kernel meal supplemented with enzymes. Australian Poultry Science Symposium 17:227-228.

Two studies determining the effect of hydrolysed fatty acids (hfa) on performance of broiler chickens fed corn-based diets for 49 days

Evonik Animal Nutrition

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