Influence of a Combination of Glycerol Polyethylene Glycol Ricinoleate and Bi-Distilled Oleic Acid in Powder Form on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Excreta Nitrogen and Liver Fatty Acid Profile of Broilers Fed Reduced-Energy Diets

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of an emulsifier in powder form com-posed of glycerol polyethylene glycol ricinoleate and bi-distilled oleic acid on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, excreta nitrogen and liver fatty acid profile of broil-ers fed reduced-energy diets. A total of 720 male ROSS 308 chicks were divided into four homogeneous groups (9 pens/20 chicks per group): positive control (PC), negative con-trol (NC, −70 kcal/kg of AME), EMUL1 and EMUL2 fed an NC diet + 250 and 500 mg/kg of emulsifier. Body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake and feed conver-sion ratio (FCR) were evaluated. Excreta were collected at 24 and 42 d directly from polyethylene trays and pooled to determine the apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and gross energy. The apparent metabolizable en-ergy (AME, AMEn) and nitrogen ammonia in excreta were determined. Performances were improved in EMUL1 and EMUL2 during the trial (p < 0.05). The digestibility of nutrients in EMUL1 and EMUL2 was increased in comparison to NC and PC (p < 0.05). Excreta nitrogen ammonia was reduced by EMUL2 at 42 d (p < 0.05). Glycerol polyeth-ylene glycol ricinoleate and bi-distilled oleic acid in powder form modulated liver fatty acid profiles, enhancing oleic acid content in EMUL1 chickens (p < 0.05), while γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid were enhanced in EMUL2 (p < 0.05). Based on the findings, it is recommended to administer solidified glycerol polyethylene glycol ric-inoleate and bi-distilled oleic acid in diets with reduced energy content for appreciable advantages in terms of growth through higher nutrient digestibility and better hepatic fatty acid composition.