INTERACTION BETWEEN NUTRITION AND EIMERIA-ACERVULINA INFECTION IN BROILER-CHICKENS - DIET COMPOSITIONS THAT IMPROVE FAT DIGESTION DURING EIMERIA-ACERVULINA INFECTION

Previously an experimental infection model was developed in which broi ler chickens were inoculated with sporulated Eimeria acervulina oocyst s at an age of 18 d. The infection resulted in adverse performance res ults and reduced nutrient digestion, In two new experiments with the i nfection model effects of diet adjustments on fat digestion were inves tigated, In the first experiment addition of 0.4 g cholic acid/kg to a diet rich in animal fat resulted in increased fat digestion during th e infection, In the second experiment replacing animal fat by coconut oil resulted in improved fat digestion during the coccidiosis infectio n, However, replacement of animal fat by soyabean oil did not improve fat digestion.