Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of feeding flaxseed oil on the performance, muscle protein deposition, and fatty acid composition of broiler chicks. Four levels of dietary flaxseed oil were fed in combination with animal tallow to give a total of 6% added fat in the diets. The diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Mortality, weight gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency were not significantly different among treatments. Dietary treatments had no significant effects on the relative weights of the Extensor digitorum communis and Sartorius muscles nor on their protein or lipid contents. Feeding flaxseed oil resulted in increased accumulation of omega 3 fatty acids in skeletal muscle lipids. Increased amounts of desaturation and elongation products (C20:3, C20:5, C22:5, and C22:6) of alpha-linolenate (C18:3 omega 3) were observed in the Sartorius muscle lipids of chicks fed flaxseed oil. Amounts of these omega 3 fatty acids increased with duration of feeding. The amounts of omega 6 fatty acids (C20:2, C20:3, C20:4) were significantly depressed in muscle lipids after 21 days of feeding flaxseed oil. The effects of flaxseed oil on tissue amounts of individual saturated fatty acids were minimal, but amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids, especially C18:1, were depressed.

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Three experiments were conducted to determine the optimum protein and energy levels for starting and finishing broiler chickens and the optimum time of change from broiler starter rations to broiler chicken finisher rations. We tested four protein levels (17, 20, 23, and 26%), each fed at three energy levels (2800, 3000, and 3200 kcal/kg diet). For starting chickens, maximum weight gains, feed efficiency, and lowest feed cost per kilogram live weight gain were obtained on the rations containing 23 or 26% protein. Differences in dietary energy levels did not significantly affect weight gain and feed consumption. Feed efficiency improved with increase in dietary energy levels although the differences in feed efficiency between any two consecutive groups were not significant. Feed cost tended to increase nonsignificantly with increase in energy level. For finishing broiler chickens, dietary protein level did not have any significant effects on weight gains. The poorest weight gain, feed efficiency, and feed cost per kilogram gain were obtained on the rations containing 17% protein. The differences in feed efficiency between protein levels of 20, 23, and 26% were not significant while no two consecutive protein levels among the 20, 23, and 26% protein diets gave feed cost per kilogram gain that was significantly different from each other. Weight gain, feed consumption, and feed cost per kilogram gain were not significantly affected by dietary energy levels. Efficiency of feed conversion tended to improve with increase in dietary energy levels, although differences in feed efficiency between 3000 and 3200 kcal/kg diet were not significant. Performances of birds fed the starter ration for 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks before changing to the finisher ration were not as good as those fed the starter ration for 5 or 6 weeks before being change) to the finisher ration or those fed the starter ration for the 9 weeks experimental period. The results of the present work indicate that a protein level of 23% and energy level of 2800 to 3000 kcal/kg diet may be recommended for starting broiler chicks raised in Nigeria. For finishing broiler chickens, a protein level of 20% and energy level of 3000 kcal/kg diet may be recommended. The optimum time of change from broiler starter to broiler finisher may be recommended at 5 or 6 weeks of age.

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