Effects of Dietary Palm Oil Inclusion Levels on Zootechnical and Biochemical Performance of Pullets


Authors

  • Ahmed MIJIYAWA Department of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (co-constructed by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding of Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271017, China
  • Elham Ghashghaei ORCiD Department of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (co-constructed by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding of Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271017, China
  • Okasha Hamada ORCiD Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, Egypt
  • Huimin Wang ORCiD Department of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (co-constructed by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding of Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271017, China
  • Uchechukwu Edna Obianwuna ORCiD Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing, China
  • Dossêh Jean Apôtre Afayibo ORCiD Department of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (co-constructed by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding of Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271017, China
  • Minghui Wang ORCiD Department of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (co-constructed by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding of Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271017, China
  • Wéré Pitala ORCiD Regional Center of Excellence for Avian Sciences, University of Lome, Lome, Togo
  • Hai Lin ORCiD Department of Animal Science, Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources (co-constructed by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Efficient Feeding of Shandong Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271017, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66920/ijps.2026.114.122

Keywords:

Biochemical parameters, palm oil, poultry diet, pullets, zootechnical

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to improve the production performance of ISA Brown laying hens by incorporating palm oil into their diet.

Materials and Methods: Six hundred ten-week-old birds were randomly allocated to four groups (H0, H1, H2 and H3) and reared for a period of ten weeks. Each group consisted of five replicates of 30 birds each. Groups H0, H1, H2 and H3 were fed diets containing 0, 1, 2 and 3% palm oil, respectively. Body weight, feed intake, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio were measured weekly for all birds. At 21 weeks of age, 10 birds were randomly selected from each group for blood sample collection and subsequent biochemical analysis.

Results: The results indicated no significant differences among the four groups in mean body weight, mean daily gain, feed conversion ratio, or serum gamma-GT concentration (p>0.05). However, feed intake was significantly higher only in group H1 compared with groups H0, H2 and H3 (p<0.05). Groups H2 and H3 exhibited significantly elevated total protein and glucose levels (p<0.0001) compared to groups H0 and H1. In contrast, ALT concentration was significantly higher in group H3 than in groups H0, H1 and H2 (p<0.0001). Triglyceride levels were also significantly higher (p<0.0001) in the treated groups compared with group H0. Moreover, AST and total cholesterol concentrations were markedly elevated in group H3.

Conclusion: Based on these results, the incorporation of 2% palm oil into pullet diets is recommended to improve production performance.

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Published

2026-07-28

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Vol. 25 (2026)

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Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2026 Ahmed MIJIYAWA, Elham Ghashghaei, Okasha Hamada, Huimin Wang, Uchechukwu Edna Obianwuna, Dossêh Jean Apôtre Afayibo, Minghui Wang, Wéré Pitala, Hai Lin

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How to Cite

MIJIYAWA, A., Ghashghaei, E. ., Hamada, O. ., Wang, H. ., Obianwuna, U. E. .,  Afayibo, D., Wang, M. ., Pitala, W. ., & Lin, H. . (2026). Effects of Dietary Palm Oil Inclusion Levels on Zootechnical and Biochemical Performance of Pullets. International Journal of Poultry Science, 25, 114–122. https://doi.org/10.66920/ijps.2026.114.122