Palm Oil and Animal Fats for Increasing Dietary Energy in Rearing Pullets

Abstract

A total of 300 Nera chicks at 8 weeks of age were randomized into five experimental rearing diets containing 170g/kg crude protein and 2800Kcal/kg of metabolizable energy to determine the comparative advantage of palm oil and animal fat as sources of increasing dietary energy in pullets. Five diets were supplemented with 2.5% and 5.0% palm oil or broiler offal fat at the expense of maize. Birds on diets with palm oil tended to retard attainment of sexual maturity, but egg production was significantly (P< 0.05) increased at 5% broiler offal fat or palm oil, and the latter additionally resulted in higher egg mass. It is concluded that 5% broiler offal fat or palm oil comparably promoted higher egg production; the latter also supported heavier egg mass of the domestic fowl. Broiler offal fat holds great potential as energy source in pullets rearing.