Effect of supplementation of different sources of lauric acid on performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chicken

A study was conducted in 252, day-old commercial broiler chicks (Cobb 400) to assess the efficacy of supplementation of different sources of lauric acid on performance, carcass characteristics and economics for five weeks.The chicks were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatment groups, with six replicates of six chicks in each treatment. The diet of negative (T1) and positive control (T2) groups was consisted of basal diet without antibiotic and with antibiotic (oxytetracycline @ 50 g/ton), respectively. The experimental dietary groups were fed basal diet with lauric acid (LA) @ 500 g/ton (T₃); monolaurin @ 300 g/ton (T₄); palm kernel oil @ 1005 g/ton (T₅); virgin coconut oil @ 974 g/ton (T₆) and LA @ 500 g/ton, caprylic @ 3 g/ton and capric acid @ 34 g/ton (T₇). The weekly body weight, gain in body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass characteristics and economics of incorporation of different sources of LA were assessed. The body weight and body weight gain at 5^th week of age were significantly (P<0.01) higher in T3, T4, T5 and T7 groups comparred to T1. The feed intake was significantly (P<0.05) lower in monolaurin (T₄) fed group than other LA supplemented groups. Feed conversion ratio was significantly (P<0.01) better in all LA supplemented groups than control. The carcass characteristics such as eviscerated carcass weight, ready-to-cook weight and giblets weight were significantly (P<0.05) influenced, however weight of liver, heart, gizzard and abdominal fat were not affected by the supplementation of different sources of LA. Monolaurin (T₄) supplemented group had better economical returns followed by palm kernel oil fed group (T₅) as compared to other treatment groups. It may be concluded that different sources of LA especially monolaurin and palm kernel oil could be used effectively as a substitute for antibiotic growth promoters in the diet of broiler chicken.