Influence of carbohydrate source on liver fat accumulation in hens

Four experiments were conducted with laying hens and one with broiler chicks to investigate the effect of carbohydrate source on fat accumulation in the liver. When corn and wheat in various proportions were fed to laying hens, the percent fat and total fat per liver increased as the proportion of corn increased. In comparison of different cereal grains and wheat samples in isocaloric diets, the total liver fat accumulated was the highest for hens fed grain sorghum, corn or triticale and the lowest for those fed barley, oats or rye. Intermediate levels of liver fat were obtained with wheat and similar liver fat contents were observed with hens fed different samples of West Coast wheat. There was no significant difference in liver fat of groups fed wheat diets made isocaloric with corn oil or animal fat, Liver fat accumulation of broiler chicks fed diets with corn or wheat was not significantly different. No difference in liver weight, liver fat content and total fat per liver was observed among hens fed diets containing either zero, one-half, or all glucose monohydrate substituted for corn. In comparisons of corn or wheat from different geographical area, no difference was observed in liver fat content of hens fed corn grown in Georgia or the Midwest or wheat grown in Georgia or in the Far West. Hens fed diets contaning corn had significantly more liver dry matter, liver fat, and total fat per liver than hens fed the isocaloric diets containing wheat. Considerably more fat accumulated in the livers of hens fed diets containing corn at Washington State University (15.4 to 19.6 g. fat/liver) than in hens fed corn at the University of Georgia (5.4 to 7.2 g. fat/liver), suggesting the existence of unidentified environmental factors affecting liver fat accumulation.