Effect of emulsifier addition on metabolizable energy reduction in broiler diets

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of including soy lecithin emulsifier (SL) in broiler diets on the reduction of metabolizable energy levels and to correlate it with nutrient metabolizability coefficients and the determination of apparent metabolizable energy (AME). Two metabolic trials were conducted in a completely randomized design, with a 3x2 factorial arrangement (feed with three levels of metabolizable energy, with or without the inclusion of an emulsifier in the diet), totaling six treatments. In the starter phase, chicks received feed with 2,950; 3,050; and 3,150 kcal/kg of metabolizable energy, with six replications of 10 birds each, totaling 360 birds. In the grower phase, 210 birds were used, with seven replications of five chicks, and the energy levels tested were 3,100; 3,150; and 3,200 kcal/kg of feed. In the starter phase, an interaction effect was observed, showing an increase in the nitrogen metabolizability coefficient (NMC) when adding the emulsifier to diets with reduced energy, as well as an effect of the emulsifier in increasing the AME corrected by the balance of nitrogen (AMEn). In the grower phase, an interaction effect was observed, showing an increase in AME and AMEn when adding the emulsifier to diets with lower energy levels. To sum up, emulsifier inclusion in broiler diets can reduce metabolizable energy while improving AMEn in both initial and grower phases, along with AME in growing broilers.
Keywords: digestibility; soy lecithin; lipids; metabolism