The aim of this experiment was to assess the effects of using saturated fatty acid (SFA) and some unsatu-rated fatty acid (UFA) sources in finishing period on performance, fat deposition and blood metabolites of broiler chickens. One hundred and forty four 28-d old male broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 4 treatments and 6 replicates in a completely randomized design. Four ocaloric/isonitrogenous diets contain-ing 5% tallow fat (TF) as SFA source or olive oil (OO), soybean oil (SO) and canola oil (CO) as UFA sources were provided during finisher period (from 29-42 d of age). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily weight gain (ADWG) of birds fed TF were significantly (P<0.05) lower as compared to birds fed vegetable oils in finisher diet. Abdominal fat percentage of birds fed TF and OO increased significantly (P>0.05) as compared to those fed SO and CO from 29-42 d of age. Relative weight of bile sac in birds fed TF diet, were significantly (P<0.05) higher than birds fed vegetable oils in finisher diets. Blood serum triglyceride of birds fed SO and CO was significantly (P<0.05) lower than birds fed TF at 42 d of age. The high density lipoprotein (HDL) of birds was significantly (P<0.05) reduced with feeding SO and CO com- pared to birds fed TF. These data suggest that performance, abdominal fat pad, relative weight of bile sac and some blood serum metabolites may be changed by modification of dietary fat sources, 14 days prior to slaughter.

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