Effects of Age on the Absorption of Fat by Turkeys Fed Mixtures of Beef Fat and Rapeseed Oil

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.