Effects of dietary emulsifier (Avilac E®) supplementation on growth performance and fat digestibility in broiler chickens

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of a commercial emulsifier (Avilac E®; 0، 100، 200 and 300 mg/kg of diet) and 2 levels of fat (soap stock) the growth performance and apparent digestibility of dietary fat in broiler chickens. In experiment 1، growth performance of 720 straight run Ross- 308 broilers (15 male، 15 female) was evaluated. In experiment 2، effect of 4 different levels of emulsifier on fat digestibility was determined during first and second weeks of experiment. Addition of emulsifier، significantly increased feed intake during 1-21 d. Body weight gain was significantly increased when 100 or 200 ppm، but not 300 ppm، of emulsifier was added in the diets from 1-21 days. Main effects of dietary fat on feed intake، weight gain and feed conversion ratio was not significant at different periods of experiment. The interaction between Avilac and dietary fat for feed intake during 1-21 and feed conversion ratio for all periods of experiment was significant. In experiment 2، Addition of the emulsifier to broiler diets had no significant effect on apparent fat digestibility، although there was a numerical improvement for 100 and 200 mg/kg levels during week 1 and 2 of experiment. Based on the result of the current study، it is concluded that the hydrophilic emulsifier had the potential to increase body weight gain (at 100 or 200 g/kg level) and feed intake during early growth.