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.