Composition of full fat palm (Elaeis guineensis jacq) kernel and availability of its nutrients to poultry

Samples of full fat palm kernel (FFPK) collected from different sources of southern India were analyzed for its chemical composition and fibre fractions. Oil extracted from FFPK samples was also analysed for its chemical characters and fatty acid profile as per standard procedures. The digestibility of nutrients and energy value of FFPK were determined through conducting digestion and metabolic trials using White Leghorn roosters. Mean EE, CP and CF content of FFPK samples was 55.85, 13.44 and 11.84%, respectively. Oil extracted from FFPK samples contained high amount of medium and long chain saturated fatty acids, confirmed by comparatively very low Iodine number (18.4 g/100g) and high Saponification number (271.2 mg/g) of EE of FFPK. Mean AME and TME values of FFPK were 4582 and 4944 kcal/kg DM, respectively and proximate components of FFPK were better utilized by roosters. It is revealed that large amount of highly saturated oil content of FFPK contributed to its higher ME value and nutrients in the FFPK was better available to poultry.