This research work was carried out to study the effect of two dietary dry fat
sources versus dietary vegetable oil (soybean oil) on the performance of broiler
chicks. Two commercial sources of dry fat were used: 1-dry fat as hydrolyzed oils blend (OFOB). 2-dry fat calcium salt (DFCS). One-day-old broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were individually weighed, wing banded
and randomly distributed into 3 equal treatments group each of 18 individual
replicates. During the experimental period, which lasted for 49 days. chicks were fed
the experimental diets which were formulated to satisfy the nutrient requirements of
broiler chicks according to guide recommendations of "Arbor Acres" broiler, and were
adjusted to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. The experimental diets were
formulated in which the first one (T,) was a diet containing soybean oil (SO) and
served as a control. The other experimental diets contained either DFOB (T2) or
DFCS (T3) as energy sources. Data on live body weight (LBW), feed intake and
calculated feed conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded at the end of each period. while
performance index (PI) and production number (PN) were calculated. Carcass
characteristics and serum biochemical variables were taken at the end of
experimental period (49 days of age). Results obtained can be abstracted as follow: Control treatment (soybean oil) recorded the best values of LBW, FCR, PI and PN,
during all experimental periods (starter, grower and finisher) compared to the other
experimental treatments. Treatment 2 (DFOB) recorded the lowest values for performance traits. Neither carcass characteristics nor blood constituents were statistically affected by
the experimental treatments. - Fatty acids profile for the tested materials (SO, DFOB and DFCS) revealed that
soybean oil (SO) contained the high unsaturated fatty acids (TU) and the lowest
saturated fatty acids (TS) values, while DFOB product had the highest TS and the
lowest TU .alues. The calculated AME reflected the fatty acids profile of the tested
materials, where SO had the highest value of AME followed by DFCS product, then
DFOB product. - The simple calculations of economic efficiency confirmed the performance results
obtained in this study, where treatment (SO) recorded the lowest feed cost I kg
LBW and the best economic efficiency compared to T) (DFCS) and T2 (DFOB) ..
respectively. It could be concluded according to the results of this particular work that: -Oils are more valuable energy source In broiler diets than dry fat oils blend used in
this study. The low performance of dietary dry fat oils blend could be attributed to
the manufacturing process. -Dry fat calcium salt used in this study needs more studies to specify the correct AME
value suitable for use in broiler diets. -The use of dry fat In poultry diets Is a new concept that needs thorough studies
before official registration, in Egypt.