What is the nutritional value of crude fat to chicken?
In feed composition analysis, substances that can be extracted with ether, including fats, oils, and lipids, are collectively referred to as crude fats. The nutritional value of crude fat for chickens is mainly manifested in the following aspects. 1. Crude fat is the material that chickens grow and repair tissue. Crude fat is an important component of the body cells of chickens. It can exist in cells alone or in combination with proteins. There are crude fats in all body tissues such as nerves, muscles, bones, and blood. The growth of new chicken tissues and the repair of old tissues must take crude fat or synthetic raw materials from the feed. 2. Crude fat is the raw material that forms hormones and eggs. Cholesterol in the chicken body can form vitamin D through ultraviolet rays, and sex hormones such as estrone and androsterone are synthesized from cholesterol. Crude fat accounts for 10% of the weight of eggs and 11.2% of eggs. 3. Crude fat is the best form of energy storage in chickens. Chickens have the characteristics of converting the remaining nutrients into body fat stores and subcutaneous muscles, between the mesenteries and around the kidneys. These fat reserves break down into supplemental energy in the absence of nutrients and egg production. The small volume of fat, which produces large amounts of energy, is the best form of stored energy. 4. Crude fat can deliver fat-soluble vitamins and carotene to the chicken body. Experiments have shown that when the chicken diet contains 4% of crude fat, carotene in the diet is absorbed by 60%. When the diet contains 0.07% of crude fat, carotene is only absorbed by 20%. 5. Crude fat can supply essential fatty acids. Octadecadienoic acid (linoleic acid), octadecatrienoic acid (linolenic acid), and arachidonic acid (peanut oleic acid) are called essential fatty acids. Egg hens should contain about 2% linoleic acid in their diets. If the supply of essential fatty acids is insufficient, the ability to fertilize cocks and the laying rate and hatchability of hens will be reduced.