The objective of the trial was to evaluate the effect of 2 emulsifiers on the production performances of broilers. For this goal a negative control (NC) diet (with 0.42 lower energy content than the PC diet) was formulated and supplemented with one of the two test emulsifiers.
Abstract
Emulsifiers are used to enhance the fat digestibility and by consequence to improve the feed conversion ratio due to the enhanced dietary MEn content. In a three-phase production trial two emulsifiers, E484 (Excential Energy Plus, 350g/T) and E481 (1000 g/T), were added on top of a negative control (NC) diet. The decrease of energy (0.42 MJ MEn/kg) in the NC diet was induced by exchanging 2.14 % fat for 2.14 % wheat in the positive control (PC) diet. Meanwhile, the addition of the synthetic amino acids was adapted in order to obtain diets with the same content of digestible amino acids. Each treatment consisted of 6 replicates with 30 male Ross 308 broilers. Birds fed the emulsifier diets reached the same final bodyweight (between 2,550 – 2,569 g) as the PC birds but had a significant (P<0.01) higher bodyweight than NC birds (2,417g). Effects on both BWG as FCR were most pronounced in the first 4 weeks of the trial. FCR of both emulsifier supplemented diets was 4.7% better (P<0.05) than those fed the NC-diet. For the overall period (0-39 d), the FCR was significantly (P<0.05) different and amounted 1.553; 1.651; 1.620 and 1.612 for the PC, NC, E484 and E481 emulsifier supplemented diets, respectively. The results demonstrated that the addition of the tested emulsifiers enhanced the performances of broilers but could not fully compensate the energy dilution of 0.42 MJ MEn/kg.
Material and Methods
A total of 720 one day old, male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in this trial. The birds were housed in the poultry experimental facility of ILVO (Animal Sciences Unit, Section Small Stock Husbandry, Merelbeke, Belgium). A randomised block design was used, with in total 6 blocks of 4 pens and 30 birds per pen. The floor was covered with fresh wood shavings and no additional filling or cleaning of the floor was necessary during the trial.
The experiment consisted of 4 treatments. Treatment 1 was a positive control (PC) diet, formulated with a metabolizable energy content of 11.8, 12.2 and 12.5 MJ/kg for starter, grower and finisher diet, respectively. Treatment 2 was the negative control diet and formulated with 0.42 MJ/kg (100 kcal) lower energy content, compared to PC. In treatment 3, the NC diet was supplemented with emulsifier I (E484, Excential Energy Plus, 350g/T) and in treatment 4 the NC diet was supplemented with emulsifier II (E481, 1000g/T). The chosen inclusion levels were based on practical applied dosages and in accordance with the advice dosage of the supplier. Diets used were wheat-soybean meal based with animal fat as added fat source. Total fat in PC was 7.42%, 8.16% and 8.95% in starter, grower and finisher respectively. The reduction in energy in NC was induced by exchanging 2,14% fat for 2.14% wheat. Meanwhile, the addition of the synthetic amino acids was adapted in order to obtain diets with the same content of digestible amino acids. A threephase feeding scheme was applied with a starter period of 12 days followed by a grower diet between 12 and 28 days of age and a finisher between 28 and 39 days of age. The diets were prepared at the Institute’s feed milling facilities. Feed was provided ad libitum as mash and drinking water was provided ad libitum by drink belts.
Data were submitted to a two-factorial variance analysis with treatment as factor and block as random factor.
Results
Bodyweight of the birds, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio’s for period 0-28 and 0-39 days are presented in Table 2. Already at 12 days of age birds of both emulsifier added diets had a significant higher bodyweight then PC birds (data not shown). At day 28 and at the end of the trial, birds on the emulsifier diets had a significant higher weight than NC birds while at 39 days their weight was equal as birds fed the PC diet.
