SUMMARYFat and oils are the most concentrated energy source for pigs. Various fat sources differ considerably in their physical-chemical characteristics and fatty acid profile. Therefore, the current study aimed to evaluate the effect of diets containing 3% fat with different ratios of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids (U:S) on the nutrient digestibility, energy utilization and growth performance of growing pigs. In experiment 1, a total of 6 crossbred, castrated male pigs (Duroc × Large White × Landrace) were used to determine the nutrient digestibility and energy utilization according to a repeated 3 × 3 Latin square design. Each of the two pigs was fed with one of the three diets containing 3% fat with a U:S ratio of 3, 4 or 5, respectively. No differences (P>0.05) in the nutrient digestibility were observed among groups, but the highest digestible and metabolizable energy (P<0.05) appeared in pigs receiving the dietary U:S ratio of 4. In experiment 2, a total of 30 pigs (with an equal number of entire males and females) were allotted into 3 groups in a randomized complete block design. Pigs were fed a diet without fat (T1), or the diets containing 3% fat with U:S ratio of 4 (T2) or 5 (T3), respectively.Although there were no significant difference in any growth criteria, average daily gain and feed conversion ratio was slightly improved (P>0.05) in the T2 group. In conclusion, the present results suggest that diets containing 3% fat with a U:S ratio of 4 is optimal for improving energy utilization in growing pigs and results in a slight enhancement of performance.