Effects of dietary fish oil supplementation in the diet on performance of Broiler chicks

This work was carried out to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of fish oil on growth performance, carcass quality, immunological and serum biochemical parameters, total antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, mortality ratio and economic efficiency measures of broiler chicks. A total of 150 (ross 308) one day old chicks was distributed into 5 groups each contains 3 replicates (10 chicks/ replicate) fed on Five experimental diets contains different level of oils (0 oil, 1(SBO & FO), 2 FO and 3% FO respectively), during the experimental period (5 weeks). four chicks from each replicate were used for analysis of the experimental chicks. The results revealed that supplementation of fish oil in diets of broiler chicks 1,2 and 3 % improve (P< 0.05) the body weight (Bw) and body weight gain (BWG) than control groups but the best value were observed in 1&3% fish oil group beside improvement of feed conversion ratio (FCR) in all groups fed fish oil than control groups. However, numerically increased feed consumption in 1% SBO fed group than other groups. Significant (P< 0.05) improvement of carcass characteristics and dressing percentage gradually with fish oil supplementation. The values of USFA and n-3 PUFA were significantly (P< 0.05) higher in the breast muscle of broilers fed with fish oil compared to the control groups. But, SFA significantly (P< 0.05) decreased with fish oil than control groups. No significant difference in n-6 PUFA value between SBO and FO groups. So, N- 6:N3 ratio in breast meat decreased gradually with FO addition. Also, triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL and VLDL concentrations were significantly (P< 0.05) reduced by fish oil treatments, but serum HDL-c, total protein (TP), and globulin (GL) concentrations were significantly (P< 0.05) increased by using diets containing fish oil. Also, provision of fish oil Significantly (P< 0.05) improves immune response in broilers chicken against Newcastle virus vaccine through increase antibody titer and TLC with decreased mortality rate. Significant (P< 0.05) improvement of intestinal morphology with fish oil supplement were detected. The highest economic efficiency was recorded in group fed 1% FO followed by 1% SBO, 2% FO, 3% FO,0% oil gradually. from the present study, it could be concluded that the supplementation of fish oil in chick's diets significantly improve the growth performance, body composition, immune response, serum biochemical parameters, intestinal morphology, decrease the mortality rate and economically efficient at rate 1% addition