Comparison of plasma very low density lipoproteins and lipogenic enzymes as predictors of fat content and food conversion efficiency in selected lines of broiler chickens

Activities of lipogenic enzymes and plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentrations were measured in lines of chickens with large differences in food conversion efficiency (FCE) and body fat. Hepatic activities of malate dehydrogenase [EC 1.1.1.40 (MD)] and ATP citrate lyase [EC 4.1.3.8 (CL)] were correlated with the proportion of both abdominal and total body fat (r = 0.50) but were poorly correlated with gain: food ratio. Activities of MD and CL in plasma were low and variable and were not correlated with any other characteristics. Plasma VLDL concentration was significantly correlated with the proportion of abdominal and total body fat (r = 0.59), and gain: food ratio (r = 0.36).