The objective of this research was to evaluate less expensive fat sources as alternatives to soybean oil in broiler diets. A total of 1,440 day-old male Ross chicks were raised to 42 days of age in a randomized block design of six treatments and six replicates, fed diets containing 4% supplemental fat from the sources: soybean oil (SOY4), beef tallow (TAL4), acidulated soapstock (SOAP4), mixtures 2%:2% (SOAP2/TAL2), (SOAP2/SOY2) and (SOY2/TAL2). Liveweight, weight gain, feed intake, feed:gain ratio and viability were analyzed using non-orthogonal contrasts: 1- SOY4 X (SOAP4 + TAL4 + SOAP2/TAL2); 2- SOY4 X (SOAP2/SOY2 + SOY2/TAL2); 3- SOAP2/SOY2 X SOY2/TAL2; 4- SOAP4 X SOAP2/SOY2; 5- SOAP4 X SOAP2/TAL2. Liveweight, weight gain and feed:gain of SOY4 were better (p<.05) than those devoid of soybean oil in the diet, but feed intake, and viability did not differ. The mixtures containing 2% soybean oil (contrast 2) resulted in performance similar to SOY4 in all variables (p>.05) and soybean oil in the mixture equally improved the results of the alternative sources (contrast 3). The performance of birds fed SOAP4 was inferior to those fed SOAP2/SOY2 (p<.06) but was similar to those fed SOAP2/TAL2 . The abdominal fat did not differ among the treatments, but abdominal fats reflected the composition of the different fats. These results confirmed the superiority of soybean oil relative to the other fat sources fed to broiler and demonstrated that the quality of acidulated soapstock and beef tallow may be improved when used in 1:1 mixtures with soybean oil.
broiler; soybean oil; beef tallow; acidulated soapstock; abdominal fat
