The effect of dietary fish oil soapstock on the performance,carcass fat and flavour of broilers 1

Three hundred and thirty six male broilers were fed on diets containing two levels (2% and 4%) of either acidulated soybean oil soapstock (SOS), acidulated fish oil soapstock (FOS), or a combination of the two. Some of the replicates were changed from FOS diets to diets containing 4% SOS at 5 or 6 1/2 weeks of age.

Dietary FOS was slightly, but significantly, inferior to SOS with regard to live performance, apparently due to an adverse effect on food intake. All birds fed on FOS were unpalatable due to a pronounced “fishy” flavour, thigh meat being more objectionable than breast meat and cooked broth more than roasted meat. About 3 to 4 weeks after transfer to SOS diets, the broilers were acceptable.

Both soapstocks contained over 65% free fatty acids, but their fatty acid composition differed, with the FOS containing more C₁₂ to C₁₆ saturated fatty acids, palmitoleic acid and the typical long‐chain polyenoic fatty acids, but much less linoleic acid. These patterns were reflected in the total dietary lipids and in the abdominal adipose tissue. After the type of dietary soapstock was altered, there was a gradual change in the composition of body fat, which, after about 3 weeks, approached the fatty acid pattern of the birds fed on a diet containing 4% SOS throughout their growing period.