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 fat deposition in broilers. Diets with four types of fats (tallow, olive oil, sunflower oil, and linseed oil), at two levels 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 separately. Performance parameters, abdominal fat, muscle fat and cholesterol, and fatty acid profile of thigh, breast, and abdominal fat were determined. Broilers fed sunflower and linseed oils presented better values of feed efficiency. Abdominal fat and cholesterol content of thigh muscle were significantly lower in animals fed sunflower and linseed oils than in those fed tallow 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 remained constant in birds fed sunflower or linseed oil. Muscle fat content was lower for birds fed tallow or olive oil but not significantly. The fatty acid profile of the different tissues reflected dietary fatty acid profile. Monounsaturated fatty acids were higher in abdominal fat, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids were higher in muscle fat. These results suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids produce lower abdominal fat deposition than saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids.