Abstract:
Supplemental emulsifiers have reported positive effects in young poultry since their lipase activity and
emulsifying capacity are low. Reports on the effects of supplemental emulsifiers on relatively mature
broilers are limited. Objective of this study was to determine the effects of two doses of commercial
emulsifier (LIPOSRB®) in broiler chicken from day 10-40. Straight-run cobb 500 commercial broiler
chicks (n=105) in 15 floor pens received one of the three experimental diets from day 10-40.
Experimental diets were, 1) control (a starter diet from day 10-21 and a finisher diet from day 22-40), 2)
same control diets+ 0.05% emulsifier and 3) same control diets + 0.1% emulsifier. Compared to control,
0.05% dietary emulsifier significantly (p<0.05) increased the live weight on day 14 and 21, and weight
gain from day 10-13 and 10-21.Those parameters were unaffected due to emulsifier during day 22-40.
Emulsifier did not have significant effects (p>0.05) on final growth performance parameters such as live
weight on day 40, weight gain from day 10-40, total feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Visceral
organ and fat pad weight, and faecal N content were not significantly (p>0.05) altered due to emulsifier.
Percentage of the sum of the weights of thigh and drumstick was significantly higher for the birds fed
0.1% emulsifier. Shank colour score of the birds fed 0.05% emulsifier (3) was significantly higher than
those fed control (2) and 0.1% emulsifier diets (2). It was concluded that synthetic emulsifier improves
the growth performance of young (from day 10-21), but not relatively mature broilers (from day 22-40)
and thus the supplementation of broiler diets with commercial emulsifiers is recommended only for
starter periods.
