Interference in Fatty Acid Metabolism of Laying Hens Caused by Cottonseed Oil Feeding

EGGS laid by hens fed rations containing either crude cottonseed oil or Sterculia foetida seeds contained higher levels of stearic acid and lower levels of oleic acid than eggs produced by hens fed a normal laying ration (Evans et al., 1961). Livers, blood plasma, and ovaries of these hens also contained more stearic acid and less oleic acid than those of normal hens, but only slight changes occurred in fatty acid distribution of heart lipides or of depot fat (Evans et al., 1962). Both crude cottonseed oil and S. foetida seed oil contain some materials that interfere with fatty acid metabolism in the hen. The interference causes the hen to produce more saturated fatty acids and less monoenoic fatty acids than are produced by hens not fed these oils rather than causing the hen to deposit more stearic acid and less oleic acid in the eggs (Evans et al., 1962).