Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of high-oleic acid sunflower seed (HOASS) in broiler diets. In the first experiment, HOASS was included in a basal diet at 80, 160, 240, and 320 g/kg at the expense of the energy-yielding ingredients, and the AMEn values of the experimental diets were determined. The linear regression equation of AMEn values on rate of inclusion was calculated. Extrapolation value for the AMEn of HOASS at 100% inclusion was 4224 +/- 77 kcal/kg. In the second experiment, diets containing up to 200 g of HOASS/kg were given to broilers (Cobb) from 0 to 42 d, and performance parameters, nutrient digestibility, and AMEn value were determined at 12 and 42 d of age. Birds fed the diets containing 100 and 200 g HOASS/kg gained less weight (P < 0.001) than those fed the diet containing no HOASS at both ages. Differences in feed-to-gain ratio were only significant for the diet with the highest concentration of HOASS. Apparent digestibility of nutrients and dietary AMEn contents of diets increased with age; thus, the mean digestibility of diets for amino acid N and for total fatty acids increased from 82.1 and 68.0% at 12 d to 86.7 and 84.7% at 42 d, respectively, and AMEn content was improved by 6.5%. Inclusion of HOASS in the diet decreased the digestibilities of fat, oleic acid, and total fatty acids. A decrease in the digestibility of aspartic acid, threonine, tyrosine, valine, isoleucine, and AMEn with increasing inclusion level was also observed at 12 d of age.