Poultry Fat and Corn Oil May Be Used to Adjust Energy in the Diets of Young Breeder Hens Without Affecting Embryogenesis and Subsequent Broiler Growout Performance

Abstract

Beginning at 22 wk of age, broiler breeder hens were fed one of six experimental diets. Diets 1 and 2 were fed to provide each bird an ME intake of 467 kcal/day (high) at peak production [467 peak Calories/day (PCD)], whereas Diets 3 and 4 contained low ME levels (430 PCD), and Diets 5 and 6 contained moderate ME levels (449 PCD). Diets 1 and 3 contained 3.0% added poultry fat, Diets 2 and 4 contained no added fat, Diet 5 contained 1.5% added poultry fat, and Diet 6 contained 3.0% added corn oil. Eggs were collected when hens were 29 wk of age. Embryonic mortality, hatchability, and subsequent growout performance were assessed through 42 d of broiler age. Added fat type (poultry fat or corn oil), poultry fat level (1.5 or 3.0%), or ME level from low (430 PCD) to high (467 PCD) in the diets of young (29-wk-old) breeder hens had no effects on subsequent embryogenesis, hatchability, or posthatch growout performance of broiler offspring. It was concluded that 1.5 and 3.0% added poultry fat or 3.0% added corn oil may be effectively used to adjustMEbetween low and high levels in the diets of young breeder hens without subsequent effects on broiler embryogenesis and growout performance.