Effect of Emulsifier Additive on Nutrient Digestibility and Growth Performance in Broiler Chickens
Authors
- L.V. Teixeira Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais 37200-000, Brazil
-
A.G. Bertechini
Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais 37200-000, Brazil
-
M.N. Soares
- C.M. Rocha Junior Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais 37200-000, Brazil
- B.G. Amorim Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais 37200-000, Brazil
-
J. Van Soest
-
T.S. Ferreira
-
S.G. Pinheiro
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2026.17.24Keywords:
AMEn, feed additive, poultry, poultry feed, soybean oilAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of graded levels of soybean oil, with or without emulsifier supplementation, on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and Apparent Metabolizable Energy (AMEn) in broiler chickens during the starter and finisher phases.
Materials and Methods: Five dietary soybean oil levels (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 g/kg) were evaluated in the presence or absence of an emulsifier, resulting in 10 dietary treatments. A total of 600 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broilers (starter phase, 14-21 days) and 360 thirty-five-day-old males (finisher phase, 35-42 days) were randomly allocated to treatments with six replicates. Total excreta collection was conducted to determine the Coefficient of Total Tract Apparent Digestibility (CTTAD) of Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and AMEn corrected for nitrogen. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and contrast procedures.
Results: Emulsifier supplementation significantly improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio in both the starter and finisher phases. In the starter phase, DM digestibility increased at 30 and 60 g/kg soybean oil (0.747 vs. 0.729; 0.740 vs. 0.722) and AMEn increased by 0.26-0.29 MJ/kg in diets containing 30-60 g/kg oil. In the finisher phase, DM digestibility improved at 45 and 60 g/kg oil (0.763 vs. 0.741; 0.743 vs. 0.724), while AMEn increased by 0.34-0.42 MJ/kg within the same oil range. Crude protein digestibility was not influenced by dietary treatments in either phase.
Conclusion: Dietary emulsifier supplementation enhances growth performance, DM digestibility and AMEn in broilers, particularly in diets containing 30-60 g/kg soybean oil. These findings highlight the potential of emulsifiers to improve energy utilization and support more efficient formulation strategies in commercial broiler feeding programs.
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