Comparison of Fat Sources in Rations of Broilers from Hatch to Market

Abstract

Seven fats were fed on a percent basis to Cobb-Cobb broilers over a seven week period to determine if there were any differences in broiler performance between fat sources. All of the birds were fed a diet that consisted primarily of corn, soybean meal and animal by-product meal. Each of the seven fats was fed to 35 birds per pen with seven replicate pens per treatment. Birds and feed were weighed on 21, 35 and 49 days with processing yield and cut-up on 50 days. There were few differences found when broiler performance was compared between fat sources. No differences were seen in processing yields as well. Data from this study would indicate that any of the fats used in this study will provide similar performance regardless of their differences in measured energy levels.