Effects of Chick Quality and Feed Oil Source (Soybean and Coconut) on Growth Performance and Carcass Parameters of Broilers

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine whether replacing soybean oil with coconut oil in the feed affects the growth performance and carcass characteristics of broilers of different qualities. After hatching, chicks were separated by sex and divided into groups sorted by quality. A 2 x 2 factorial design was used, with chick quality (low and high) and feed oils (soybean and coconut) as the main effects, forming four treatment groups. A total of 800 chicks were used, with five replicates per group and 40 chicks per replicate. The initial live weights of these chicks were determined to be 44.01 g, 43.44 g, 44.73 g and 44.60 g for the low quality + soybean oil, low quality + coconut oil, high quality + soybean oil, and high quality + coconut oil treatment groups, respectively. This study showed that high-quality birds had significantly higher total feed consumption (p<0.05), but body weight gain and feed conversion rate were similar (p>0.05). Mortality was significantly higher in low-quality chicks, especially in the last three weeks (p<0.05). Low-quality female chicks had the highest abdominal fat amount and percentage (p<0.05). Birds fed coconut oil had a comparatively better feed conversion rate and higher body weight gain (p>0.05), and coconut oil had no significant effect on mortality or carcass quality (p>0.05). In conclusion, high-quality chicks outperformed low-quality ones, and coconut oil improved feed conversion without affecting mortality or carcass traits.