Effect of dietary palmitic acid on broiler chicks fed on various concentrations of calcium

1. The effect of dietary palmitic acid on body weight and bone-ash of chicks fed three concentrations of calcium was studied in a 2 X 3 factorial design (0 and 10% palmitic acid, 0.4, 0.7 and 1.0% calcium). 2. Body weight of chick not influenced by the calcium concentration when palmitic acid was not included in the diet. 3. When 10% palmitic acid was included the body weight of chicks fed 0.4 and 0.7% calcium was lower (P less than 0.01) than for the other groups. 4. Bone-ash was lower (P less than 0.01) for chicks fed 0.4% calcium than for the other two calcium concentrations when palmitic acid was not added and palmitic acid at 10% of the diet reduced bone-ash of the chicks fed 0.4 and 0.7% calcium (P less than 0.01).