152 The Effect of a Multi-Enzyme Containing Xylanase, β-Glucanase, Protease and Amylase Added to a High-Fiber Corn-Based Diet in Comparison to a Conventional Diet, on the Growth Performance of Weaned Pigs

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluated the effect of a multi-enzyme complex on growth performance in weaned pigs fed a wheat-barley-rye-based diet containing fiber-rich by-products and with a low level of highly digestible protein and energy ingredients. Two experimental runs were performed, each with 96 (DE x DL) × Pi pigs [24–26 days of age; 8.0 ± 0.06 kg initial body weight (BW)] assigned to two treatments in 24 pens per run (4 pigs/pen, 2 males and 2 females; 12 pens/treatment/run) in a randomized block design. Pigs were allocated to treatment on the day of weaning. Treatments comprised: 1) a nutritionally adequate wheat-barley-rye-soybean meal-based diet with added wheat bran and rapeseed meal, containing 750 FTU/kg of a commercial Buttiauxella sp. phytase (ALT), and 2) the same diet supplemented with a multi-enzyme containing 4,000 U/kg xylanase, 200 U/kg β-glucanase, 2,000 U/kg protease and 100 U/kg amylase (ALT+multi-enzymes). Diets were formulated in two phases (Pre-starter, d 0–14; starter, d 15–42) and fed ad libitum as pelleted diets for 42 days. The analyzed content of crude fiber and neutral detergent fiber in ALT diets were, respectively, 4.0% and 11.5% in pre-starter, and 4.2% and 14.8% in starter phase. Body weight was measured at the start and end of each phase, feed intake was determined weekly. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA using IBM SPSS 21 including run as a random effect. During pre-starter phase, average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were greater in pigs fed ALT+multi-enzymes vs. ALT, by 8.4% (232 vs 214 g/day) and 6.7% (300 vs. 281 g/day), respectively, although this was not statistically significant (Table 1). During starter phase, pigs fed ALT+multi-enzymes exhibited increased ADG vs. ALT (+35 g/day or 5.5%; P < 0.05). For the overall period (d 0 to 42), pigs fed ALT+multi-enzyme were, on average, 1.3 kg heavier than pigs fed ALT (P < 0.05), ADG was increased by +32 g/day (4.4%; P < 0.05) and FCR tended (P = 0.07) to be reduced (1.48 vs 1.44). Total feed costs per kg BW gain, exclusive of the cost of the enzymes, tended to be reduced in ALT+multi-enzymes vs. ALT, (-0.014 USD/kg BW gain, overall; P = 0.09). These results demonstrate that the multi-enzyme supplemented on top of phytase improved growth performance. Given the established mode of action of the individual enzymes, this may have been mediated by enhanced digestibility and utilization of nutrients in the ALT diet. In conclusion, supplementing a high-fiber mixed diet containing by-products and low inclusion of highly digestible energy and protein ingredients with a multi-enzyme complex improved growth performance in weaned pigs and led to economic benefit.