Effect of β-mannanase inclusion on growth performance, ileal digestible energy, and intestinal viscosity of male broilers fed a reduced-energy diet

Abstract

SUMMARY The objective of the current trial was to investigate the effect of β-mannanase sourced from Bacillus subtilus on broiler performance, ileal digestible energy, and intestinal viscosity. A randomized complete block study was conducted utilizing a total of 1,800 one-day-old Cobb 500 male broilers distributed among 3 treatments with 15 repetitions; n = 40 broilers/pen on new pine shavings. The experimental design consisted of 3 dietary treatments: positive control (PC), negative control (NC) containing 97 kcal/kg AME less than the PC, and negative control + β-mannanase. Beta-mannanase was included at 453.6 g/ton with sand being added to the NC diet at 453.6 g/ton. Diets were corn and soybean meal based with the inclusion of DDGS and phytase and pelleted at 75C. Production parameter (feed intake, BW, BW gain, and mortality corrected FCR) comparisons were made across treatment groups on a weekly basis. The PC fed broilers maintained a heavier average BW (P