The Observations On The Effects Of Medium-chain Fatty Acid Triglycerides (MCT) On The Body Weight Gains In Broiler Chickens

Medium chain fatty acid(MCFAs)refers to a single saturated fatty acid with 6-12 carbon atoms chain,that more than 12 carbon atoms chain called long chain fatty acids.Triglycerides,which are synthesized by MCFAs andglycerol,are called medium chain triglycerides(MCT).MCT are mainly found in coconut oil,palm kernel oil,and animal milk.Due to the shorter chain fatty acid carbon chain,MCFAs are more easily absorbed by intestinal epithelial cells,and easily enter the capillary venous end and into the blood,where they are translated to the liver via the portal vein system and direct access to the hepatocytes and undergo oxidation and energy supply,produce large amounts of ATP,and not form the newly synthesized triglyceride.Therefore,the metabolism of MCFAs is directly and rapidly used by the liver cells,which has the characteristics of rapidity,limitation and mandatory.Recently 10 years,the studies on the apply of medium chain triglycerides(MCT)to piglets have been widely reported,but that to birds is rare.To investigate the effects of medium-chain fatty acid triglycerides(MCT)on the body weight gain and some production performance of broiler chickens,48 brown-markings,15 day old chickens were subjected in this study and were randomly divided into A,B,C three groups.1g/L?2g/L and 0g/L MCT preparations(You-Su-Neng A)dissolved in water were given respectively.Effects of the body weight gains,carcass component and feed rewards were measured in order to provided some basic data for the application of MCT in chickens.The test lasted for 20 days.The results were as followings:1.The addition of 1g/L?2g/L MCT has no significant effect on the body weight gain and feed consumption compared with the control group(C group).However,the relative body weight gains of the A and B groups were induced to significant changes in short term compared with the control(P<0.05 or P<0.01),indicating that there was a compensatory or self-stable mechanism in the body weight gain.2.To add 1g/L?2g/L MCT preparations in drinking water significantly affected the amount of drinking water and reduced the ratio of food to body weight gain.3 Additions 1g/L?2g/L MCT preparations in drinking water promoted the deposition of abdominal fat(P<0.05),but significantly inhibited the thymus,bursa and spleen weight gains(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The indexes of muscles and other visceral organs were not significantly affected(P>0.05).4.Drinking water with 1g/L MCT preparations could induce significant decrease of plasma T4 level(P<0.05)and significant increase of T3 levels(P<0.05),and significantly decreased the plasma level of IGF-1(P<0.05).5.Addition 1g/L?2g/L MCT preparation to drinking water had no significant effect in blood glucose level,but resulted in the blood lipid levels and blood ketone significantly increased(P<0.05).The results showed that the effects of MCT on broiler body weight gain was not obvious.It can increase the body weight gain of chickens in short term,but soon to be corrected.The mechanism may be that the ability of T4 transformed into T3 in liver cells was enhanced by the metabolism of MCFAs in liver cells.So as to promote the etabolism of the whole body,and consume of extra energy and material,so that to keep the body's self homeostasis.Reduction of IGF-1 levels is also associated with this harmonization.From the above we can know,medium chain fatty have no obvious effect in promoting body weight gain in chickens.The best using methods and the best conditions on the using of MCT preparation need to further explore.