Dietary fatty acid profile modifies abdominal fat deposition in broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of different dietary fatty acid profiles on abdominal Eat deposition in broilers. Diets with four type s of fats (tallow, olive oil, sunflower oil, and linseed oil), at two level s of fat inclusion (either 6 or 10%), were administered to males from 21 to 42 d and to females from 21 to 49 d of age. The sexes were studied separat ely. Performance parameters, abdominal fat, muscle fat and cholesterol, and fatty acid profile of thigh, breast, and abdominal fat were determined. Br oilers fed sunflower and linseed oils presented better values of feed effic iency. Abdominal fat and cholesterol content of thigh muscle were significa ntly lower in animals fed sunflower and linseed oils than in those fed tall ow or olive oil (P < 0.001). In females, abdominal fat increased with level of fat inclusion only in birds fed tallow or olive oil, whereas it remaine d constant in birds fed sunflower or linseed oil. Muscle fat content was lo wer for birds fed tallow or olive oil but not significantly. The fatty acid profile of the different tissues reflected dietary fatty acid profile. Mon ounsaturated fatty acids were higher in abdominal fat, whereas polyunsatura ted fatty acids were higher in muscle fat. These results suggest that polyu nsaturated fatty acids produce lower abdominal fat deposition than saturate d or monounsaturated fatty acids.