Effect of dietary medium chain triglyceride on protein and energy utilisation in growing chicks

1. Protein, fat and energy retentions of chicks fed on diets containing medium chain triglyceride (MCT) and long chain triglyceride (LCT), at 100 and 200 g fat/kg diet, were investigated. Maize oil was used as the LCT source. The MCT used was glyceryl tricaprylate. 2. Body weight gain and food intake were decreased with the diets containing MCT and these effects were greater at the higher fat concentration. Protein retention was also reduced by dietary MCT, although the efficiency of protein utilisation (protein retained/protein intake) was not altered. 3. The values for fat and energy retentions were significantly lower in the chicks fed on the MCT-supplemented diets than in those receiving the LCT-containing diets. Dietary ME values and efficiencies for energy utilisation (energy retained/ME intake) were also reduced by dietary MCT.