DIETARY CARNITINE DID NOT INFLUENCE PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS COMPOSITION OF BROILER-CHICKENS AND YOUNG TURKEYS FED LOW-FAT OR HIGH-FAT DIETS

Two experiments were conducted to determine the influence of supplemen tal dietary carnitine on performance and carcass composition of young turkeys and broiler chickens. Experiments 1 and 2 were done with poult s to 21 d of age and broilers to 45 d of age, respectively. Three diet ary concentrations of L-carnitine (0, 50, or 100 mg/kg) were fed in a factorial arrangement with two concentrations of animal-vegetable fat (A-V fat), 2.25 or 8% in Experiment 1 and I or 5% in Experiment 2. L-C arnitine did not affect (P > .05) BW gain or feed efficiency in either experiment, irrespective of concentration of dietary fat. Similarly, proximate composition of 21-d-old poults and 45-d-oId broilers was not changed by L-carnitine. Increasing levels of fat supplementation impr oved feed efficiency of poults and improved 45-d BW and feed efficienc y of broilers. Carcass fat of poults and broilers was increased (P les s than or equal to .05) by supplemental fat at the expense of carcass water and protein.