Work

Effects of medium-chain fatty acid-rich oils with different free fatty acid contents on fatty acid digestibility, intestinal health and abdominal fat composition in grower-finisher broiler chickens

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of replacing soybean oil (SO) with MCFA-rich oils differing in free fatty acid (FFA) content on fatty acid (FA) digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy (AME), intestinal health, and abdominal fat composition in grower-finisher broilers. Four experimental diets were formulated by replacing 6% of SO with black soldier fly larvae oil (BSFO), palm kernel oil (PKO), or palm kernel fatty acid distillate (PKFAD). At the distal ileum, MCFA-rich diets achieved up to 90% absorption of MCFA, of which more than 96% occurred in the jejunum. However, compared with SO, the inclusion of BSFO and PKO, characterized by high MCFA (36-49%) and low FFA contents (<3%), resulted in lower PUFA digestibility, but similar MUFA and LCSFA utilization (P < 0.01). In contrast, the PKFAD diet, with a similar FA composition to PKO but characterized by elevated FFA (68.2%) and LCSFA (38.2%) levels, reduced the digestibility of most FA across intestinal segments and decreased dietary AME (P < 0.001). Intestinal morphology and total cecal fermentation were not influenced by dietary treatments. Lactobacillus counts were reduced in PKFAD-fed broilers (P < 0.01); however, the Lactobacillus:Enterobacteriaceae ratio was not affected. Abdominal fat pad weight was not influenced by diet, although MCFA-rich oils modified its FA composition, decreasing PUFA and increasing SFA proportions (both MCFA and LCSFA), resulting in a lower UFA/SFA ratio. Taken together, the inclusion of MCFA-rich oils low in FFA at 6% supports their use as alternative lipid sources in grower-finisher diets by contributing to efficient fatty acid utilization and dietary energy supply, while indicating that FFA levels affect their nutritional value.

Source: Poultry Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2026.107966