Comparative studies on the digestibility of beef, buffalo, camel and mutton fats for chicks

Abstract

I . A comparative study on the digestibility of beef, buffalo, camel and mutton fats was made withchicks during theqthweekof age. Each fat was addedto a low-fat dietat levels of 3,6and 9 yo.2. The mean digestibilities of beef, buffalo, camel and mutton fats were 85.4, 72.6, 83-9 and 9 4 1 yo respectively. Thus mutton fat appeared to be significantly superior to other fats, whereas buffalo fat was significantly inferior.3. The melting points of the fats seemed to have no influence on their digestibilities. 4. With the exception of beef fat, the digestibility of the fats improved as the iodine value increased.During recent years animal fats have been incorporated widely in high-energy rations for broilers. Beef tallow and lard are the principal fats used in some countries, mutton fat being used to a lesser extent.In Egypt considerable numbers of buffaloes are slaughtered yearly and are an important source of meat for human consumption. Large numbers of camels are also slaughtered in some districts of Egypt and of the countries of the Middle East. At the present time animal fats are not accepted by most consumers, and it is cxpected that a surplus of these fats will accumulate. An evaluation of such fats is necessary for the development of high-energy rations for poultry.Although the digestibilities of beef tallow and mutton fat have been determined by several authors, there does not appear to be any information available in the literature concerning the digestibility of buffalo and camel fats.It was of interest therefore to carry out a comparative study on the digestibility for chicks of beef, buffalo, camel and mutton fats. E X P E R I M E N T A L Animals and their managementUnsexed Fayomi chicks, I d old, were used. They were kept in cages with raised wire floors in an electrically heated room to 4 weeks of age. Feed and water were supplied ad lib. The chicks were weighed at weekly intervals and food consumption was recorded. Diets A basal low-fat mash ( Table I ) was given to the control birds. I n the rations in which the animal fats were included, maize starch was replaced on a weight for weight basis with 3, 6 and 9% of either beef, buffalo, camel or mutton fat prepared * Present address: 384 El-Haram Str., Giza, Egypt, UAR.