EFFECTS OF AGE ON THE ABSORPTION OF FAT BY TURKEYS FED MIXTURES OF BEEF FAT AND RAPESEED OIL

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Abstract
The absorption of Span low erucic acid rapeseed oil (SRO), beef fat (BF) or combinations of these fats totalling 10% of the diet of Small White turkeys has been determined weekly to 6 wk of age. The corrected absorbability of 100, 75, 50, 25, and 0% SRO combined with 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% BF averaged 96, 95, 90, 82, and 79%. The absorbability of BF and combinations including BF increased with age, most of the increase occurring by 3 wk of age. The unsaturated fatty acids (18:1, 18:2) were highly absorbed, as were the saturated fatty acids (16:0, 18:0) of SRO. The absorbability of 16:0 and 18:0 of BF was low but increased with age. It was concluded that mixtures including 50% or more of low erucic acid rapeseed oil improve the utilization and energy contribution to the diet by BF.