Effects of feeding different lipid sources on hepatic histopathology features and growth traits of broiler chickens

The effects of different dietary lipid sources on growth traits and hepatic histopathology of broiler chick-ens were investigated. Hubbard strain one-day old chickens (n = 120) were kept in pens and were fedone of the three corn-soybean meal-based diets until 49 days of age. The dietary treatments consisted of2.5% added oil or fat from three sources as follows: SFO diet containing sunflower oil; LRD diet containinglard, and EVOO diet containing extra-virgin olive oil. Dietary oil or fat type improved significantly bodyweight and gain as well as feed efficiency in birds fed EVOO compared to those fed the other treatments.Based on our findings, after the whole experimental feeding period it was possible to observe relevantinjuries to the liver of the chicks fed with lard, whereas the hepatic histopathological changes appearedless marked or absent in the chicks fed vegetable oils from sunflower or olive. Thus, we can conclude thatdietary lipid source affected chicks performance and hepatic histopathology especially when chicks feddiet containing animal fats; whereas feeding extra-virgin olive oil supported positively growth traits anddid not result in hepatic histopathological effects.