Growth performance, carcass traits, nutrient utilization, and cost economics of broiler chickens fed diet supplemented with linseed

Broiler diets frequently include fats and oils to improve energy density, feed palatability, and functionality associated with n-3 PUFAs. The purpose of this research was to see how dietary supplementation of linseed (LS) affected production performance, carcass traits, nutrient utilization and cost economic of broiler chickens. A total of two hundred male, one-day-old broiler chicks were fed a basal diet for one week. After one week, chicks were randomly distributed into five treatment groups, i.e. one which were fed with basal diet (control), and others fed different rations containing 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% of LS. Each treatment included five pens, each with eight chicks. The diet was formulated in two phases: starter phase (7-21d) and the finisher phase (22-42d). The chickens fed rations supplemented with different levels of LS resulted decreased (P<0.05) body weight but increased (P<0.05) FCR during last 21 days of the trial. There was no significant difference in feed intake during starter phase and finisher phase among the groups. The carcass attributes were insignificant among groups except abdominal fat. Abdominal fat was decreased (P<0.05) with increasing levels of LS. Digestibility attributes were significant among groups except Ether extract (EE) and Nitrogen free extract (NFE). Production and feed cost of broiler birds was increased with increasing levels of LS. Hence, LS could be used as a natural energy source to decrease abdominal fat levels and improve nutrient utilization.