Supplementing a combination of lysolecithin, synthetic emulsifier and monoglycerides improves performance, profitability and sustainability in broiler diets reduced in energy and amino acids

A total of 720 one-day-old, broiler chickens were randomly distributed to 3 dietary treatments for 42 days: a control basal diet (PC); PC reformulated to reduce AME and digestible amino acids by 70 kcal/kg and 1.5% respectively (NC); and NC + 500 mg/kg of LEX (NC+LEX). Each group consisted of 20 pens with 13 birds each. Birds were fed starter (1-10d), grower (11- 21d), and finisher (22- 42d) diets. Birds from PC and NC+LEX compared to birds from NC: during 1-10d, showed lower FI ( P = 0.0209), higher BWG ( P = 0.0137) and better FCR ( P < 0.001); during 11-21d, showed lower FI ( P < 0.001), higher BWG ( P = 0.001) and better FCR ( P < 0.001); during 21-42d, showed better FCR ( P = 0.0177); and during 1-42d showed lower FI (PC, 5194 vs. NC, 5333 vs. NC+LEX, 5161 g; P < 0.001), higher BWG (PC, 3317 vs. NC, 3165 vs. NC+LEX, 3278 g; P = 0.001) and better FCR (PC, 1.568 vs. NC, 1.686 vs. NC+LEX, 1.575; P < 0.001). Ileal fat digestibility was higher in birds from PC and NC+LEX than in birds from NC (PC, 91.39 vs. NC, 87.70 vs. NC+LEX, 92.52%; P < 0.001). The IOFC of NC+LEX treatment was 17.5 and 161.4 €/1000 birds higher than PC and NC, respectively. In conclusion, the study shows that adding LEX to broiler diets reduced in AME and amino acids improved growth performance, fat digestibility, and profitability.