Inclusion of a stabilized emulsifier in low-energy diet for broilers: effects on nutrients retention, excreta trait and growth performances

Increasing sustainability of feed production chain is crucial according to current European legislation. Broilers generally require high energy diets and vegetal oils are included in feed to rise the caloric content. Minimizing the inclusion of complex energy sources, may represent an optimal approach to enhance the sustainability of the feed production chain. This study focused on the effects of the inclusion of an emulsifier composed by polyethylene-glycol ricinoleate and bi-distilled oleic acid stabilized on silica (Nutriemul P, Sevecom part of Barentz) in low-energy diets on performances and apparent total tract retention (ATTR) of broiler. Immediately after hatching, 720 male Broilers ROSS 308 were divided into 4 homogeneous groups (9 replicates per group / 20 chicks per replicate): positive control (PC) fed with a standard diet, negative control (NC) fed a basal diet reduced in energy content (-70 kcal/kg) through soybean oil modulation, T1 and T2 fed NC diet + 250 and 500 g/ton of emulsifier, respectively. Performances were evaluated at 0, 10, 21, and 42 d on trial. Excreta were collected at 24 and 42 d directly from polyethylene trays and pooled to determine dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), gross energy (GE), apparent metabolizable energy (AME), and calculate their ATTR. Nitrogen ammonia was assessed on excreta samples. Performance analysis was executed with a MIXED procedure of SAS, while ATTR and nitrogen ammonia were analysed using a GLM procedure of SAS. The inclusion of emulsifier in T1 and T2 ameliorated ATTR of DM compared to NC at 42 d (P<0.05). CP and EE retention rate ameliorated in T1 and T2 vs NC at 42 d (P<0.05). GE retention, AME and AME/GE ratio were enhanced in T1 and T2 vs NC at 42 d (P<0.05). Nitrogen ammonia decreased in T2 samples at 42 d compared to NC (P<0.05). Body weight was higher in T1 vs NC (2845.67 ± 90.69 g vs 2557.52 ± 83.68 g; P<0.01) and in T2 vs NC (2773.83 ± 93.56 g vs 2557.52 ± 83.68 g; P<0.01) at 42 d. Average daily gain improved in T1 vs NC (68.37 ± 2.21 g vs 61.34 ± 2.05 g; P<0.01) and in T2 vs NC (66.63 ± 2.29 g vs 61.34 ± 2.05 g; P<0.01) considering the overall trial period. Improving retention of dietary nutrients through emulsifier revealed promising results towards an optimization of complex energy sources inclusion, showing positive reflexes in performances, sustainability, and economic terms.