EFFECTS OF ADDED LARD FED TO BROILER-CHICKENS DURING THE STARTER PHASE - 1 - BODY AND SELECTED ORGAN WEIGHTS, FEED CONVERSION, HEMATOLOGY, AND SERUM GLUCOSE

The effects of added lard in starter diets on BW, selected organ weigh ts, feed conversion, hematological indices, and serum glucose were det ermined weekly in broiler chickens between 14 and 42 d of age. Nonisoc aloric starter diets were formulated to contain either 0, 3, or 7% add ed lard, where the megacaloric percentages of all major nutrients were held constant. Broiler chickens received either 0, 3, or 7% added lar d in starter diets through 10 d of age (S1), followed by either 3 or 7 % added dietary lard through 21 d of age (S2). All possible combinatio ns of the three S1 diets and two S2 diets yielded six total dietary tr eatments. A common grower diet was provided after 21 d. Body weight wa s not affected by diet and feed conversion did not increase between 21 and 42 d when birds were fed 3 or 7% added lard in the S1 diet. The e ffects of the S1 and S2 diets on relative Liver weight were inconsiste nt over time and were not influenced by sex. Hematocrits were increase d across time in birds fed 3% S1 diets and plasma protein concentratio ns were increased at 14 d in birds fed 7% S1 diets. It was concluded t hat the response of broiler chickens between 14 and 42 d to different levels of dietary lard was influenced by age of feeding during the sta rter period.