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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Poultry Science

Effects of medium-chain fatty acid-rich oils with different free fatty acid contents on fatty acid digestibility, intestinal health and abdominal fat composition in grower-finisher broiler chickens

  • M. Espinosa-de-los-Monteros-Peñafiel1
  • E. Llauradó-Calero1
  • L. Castillejos1
  • R. Sala1
  • A. Tres2,3
  • M.D. Soler4
  • A.C. Barroeta1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Animal Nutrition and Welfare Service (SNiBA), Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
  2. 2Departament de Nutrició, Ciències de l’Alimentació i Gastronomia, Universitat de Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, 08921, Spain
  3. 3Institut de Recerca en Nutrició i Seguretat Alimentària, Universitat de Barcelona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, 08921, Spain
  4. 4AviFeed Science, Department of Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, CEU Universities, Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, 46115, Spain
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Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of replacing soybean oil (SO) with MCFA-rich oils differing in free fatty acid (FFA) content on fatty acid (FA) digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy (AME), intestinal health, and abdominal fat composition in grower-finisher broilers. Four experimental diets were formulated by replacing 6% of SO with black soldier fly larvae oil (BSFO), palm kernel oil (PKO), or palm kernel fatty acid distillate (PKFAD). At the distal ileum, MCFA-rich diets achieved up to 90% absorption of MCFA, of which more than 96% occurred in the jejunum. However, compared with SO, the inclusion of BSFO and PKO, characterized by high MCFA (36–49%) and low FFA contents (<3%), resulted in lower PUFA digestibility, but similar MUFA and LCSFA utilization (P < 0.01). In contrast, the PKFAD diet, with a similar FA composition to PKO but characterized by elevated FFA (68.2%) and LCSFA (38.2%) levels, reduced the digestibility of most FA across intestinal segments and decreased dietary AME (P < 0.001). Intestinal morphology and total cecal fermentation were not influenced by dietary treatments. Lactobacillus counts were reduced in PKFAD-fed broilers (P < 0.01); however, the Lactobacillus:Enterobacteriaceae ratio was not affected. Abdominal fat pad weight was not influenced by diet, although MCFA-rich oils modified its FA composition, decreasing PUFA and increasing SFA proportions (both MCFA and LCSFA), resulting in a lower UFA/SFA ratio. Taken together, the inclusion of MCFA-rich oils low in FFA at 6% supports their use as alternative lipid sources in grower–finisher diets by contributing to efficient fatty acid utilization and dietary energy supply, while indicating that FFA levels affect their nutritional value.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{espinosadelosmonterospenafiel2026effects,
  title = {{Effects of medium-chain fatty acid-rich oils with different free fatty acid contents on fatty acid digestibility, intestinal health and abdominal fat composition in grower-finisher broiler chickens}},
  author = {M. Espinosa-de-los-Monteros-Peñafiel and E. Llauradó-Calero and L. Castillejos and R. Sala and A. Tres and M.D. Soler and A.C. Barroeta},
  journal = {Poultry Science},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1016/j.psj.2026.107966},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.107966},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Effects of medium-chain fatty acid-rich oils with different free fatty acid contents on fatty acid digestibility, intestinal health and abdominal fat composition in grower-finisher broiler chickens
AU  - M. Espinosa-de-los-Monteros-Peñafiel
AU  - E. Llauradó-Calero
AU  - L. Castillejos
AU  - R. Sala
AU  - A. Tres
AU  - M.D. Soler
AU  - A.C. Barroeta
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/14
JO  - Poultry Science
DO  - 10.1016/j.psj.2026.107966
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2026.107966
AB  - This study evaluated the effects of replacing soybean oil (SO) with MCFA-rich oils differing in free fatty acid (FFA) content on fatty acid (FA) digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy (AME), intestinal health, and abdominal fat composition in grower-finisher broilers. Four experimental diets were formulated by replacing 6% of SO with black soldier fly larvae oil (BSFO), palm kernel oil (PKO), or palm kernel fatty acid distillate (PKFAD). At the distal ileum, MCFA-rich diets achieved up to 90% absorption of MCFA, of which more than 96% occurred in the jejunum. However, compared with SO, the inclusion of BSFO and PKO, characterized by high MCFA (36–49%) and low FFA contents (<3%), resulted in lower PUFA digestibility, but similar MUFA and LCSFA utilization (P < 0.01). In contrast, the PKFAD diet, with a similar FA composition to PKO but characterized by elevated FFA (68.2%) and LCSFA (38.2%) levels, reduced the digestibility of most FA across intestinal segments and decreased dietary AME (P < 0.001). Intestinal morphology and total cecal fermentation were not influenced by dietary treatments. Lactobacillus counts were reduced in PKFAD-fed broilers (P < 0.01); however, the Lactobacillus:Enterobacteriaceae ratio was not affected. Abdominal fat pad weight was not influenced by diet, although MCFA-rich oils modified its FA composition, decreasing PUFA and increasing SFA proportions (both MCFA and LCSFA), resulting in a lower UFA/SFA ratio. Taken together, the inclusion of MCFA-rich oils low in FFA at 6% supports their use as alternative lipid sources in grower–finisher diets by contributing to efficient fatty acid utilization and dietary energy supply, while indicating that FFA levels affect their nutritional value.
SN  - 0032-5791
SN  - 1525-3171
ER  -