title: Influence of tallow and calcium concentrations on the performance and energy and nutrient utilization in broiler starters.
abstract: The influence of tallow and Ca concentrations on the performance, apparent ileal digestibility, and total tract retention of N, Ca, P, and AME in broiler starter diets fed corn-soy-based diets was examined. The experimental design was a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement of treatments evaluating 3 inclusion levels of tallow (0, 40, and 80 g/kg) and 3 dietary concentrations of Ca (7, 10, and 13 g/kg). Nine treatment diets were formulated to meet the requirements for major nutrients for broiler starters, except for AME and Ca concentrations. The results showed that increasing tallow inclusion increased (P < 0.001) the weight gain and lowered (P < 0.001) the feed to gain. Increasing dietary Ca concentrations decreased (P < 0.001) the weight gain. Birds fed diets containing 7 g/kg of Ca had similar (P > 0.05) feed to gain to 10 g/kg of Ca but lower (P < 0.05) than that of 13 g/kg of Ca. In diets with no tallow, increasing Ca concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) feed intake, whereas diets with 40 and 80 g/kg of tallow containing 13 g/kg of Ca showed lower (P < 0.05) feed intake than those of 7 and 10 g/kg of Ca. Diets supplemented with 40 and 80 g/kg of tallow containing 7 g/kg of Ca showed the lowest (P < 0.05) excreta soap content. Total tract retention of fat was higher (P < 0.001) in diets with 40 g/kg of tallow compared with those with 0 and 80 g/kg of tallow. Birds fed diets containing 7 g/kg of Ca had similar (P > 0.05) fat retention to that of 10 g/kg of Ca, but higher (P < 0.05) than that of 13 g/kg of Ca. Calcium retention decreased (P < 0.001) with increasing Ca concentrations. Diets containing 13 g/kg of Ca had the lowest (P < 0.01) P retention. Diets with no inclusion of tallow containing 7 g/kg of Ca had higher (P < 0.05) N retention than that of 13 g/kg of Ca, but similar to 10 g/kg of Ca, whereas in 40 g/kg of tallow diets, 7 g/kg of Ca had the highest (P < 0.05) N retention. Increasing fat inclusion increased (P < 0.001) the soap content in ileal digesta. Diets with 40 g/kg of tallow had the highest ileal digestibility of fat (P < 0.001) and N (P < 0.01). Increasing inclusion of fat decreased (P < 0.001) ileal Ca digestibility. Diets containing 7 g/kg of Ca showed the highest ileal digestibility of fat (P < 0.01), N (P < 0.01), and P (P < 0.001). Birds fed diets containing 13 g/kg of Ca had higher ileal digestibility of Ca (P < 0.001) than those fed 7 and 10 g/kg of Ca diets. Overall, present data showed that the total tract retention and ileal digestibility of fat were higher with supplementation of 40 g/kg of tallow compared with those of 0 and 80 g/kg of tallow. High dietary Ca concentrations adversely affected the performance and the utilization of energy, N, Ca, and P in broiler starters.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tancharoenrat
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand V.Ravindran@massey.ac.nz.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ravindran
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis; D004063:Digestion; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005223:Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D005223:Fats; D010758:Phosphorus; C013698:tallow; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: apparent metabolizable energy; broiler; calcium; nutrient utilization; tallow