Sudden death syndrome in broilers: dietary fat supplementation and its effect on tissue composition

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Poultry Nutrition
• Avian Health

Background:

• Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is a significant cause of mortality in broiler chickens.
• Dietary fat sources can influence broiler performance and health outcomes.
• Understanding the impact of different fats on SDS incidence is crucial for the poultry industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of dietary fat sources (sunflower oil vs. tallow) on broiler chicken performance.
• To determine the influence of dietary fat on the incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS).
• To analyze tissue fatty acid composition and mineral content in relation to SDS.

Main Methods:

• Two experiments were conducted using wheat-soy diets supplemented with either sunflower oil or tallow.
• Broiler chickens were raised under different stocking densities in the second experiment.
• Performance characteristics, mortality rates, blood lipid parameters, and tissue fatty acid and mineral compositions were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Sunflower oil supplementation significantly improved broiler performance and reduced SDS mortality compared to tallow.
• Dietary fat source did not affect blood lipid parameters.
• Stocking density had no significant effect on performance or SDS.
• Fatty acid profiles in heart and liver tissues differed between SDS and culled birds, with notable changes in palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidonic acids.
• Calcium concentration was higher in the heart tissue of SDS birds, and significant differences in copper and zinc were found in liver tissue.

Conclusions:

• Sunflower oil is a preferable dietary fat source for improving broiler performance and mitigating SDS.
• Dietary fat composition influences tissue fatty acid profiles, potentially playing a role in SDS pathogenesis.
• Further research into the specific mechanisms linking dietary fats, tissue composition, and SDS is warranted.