Abstract
BackgroundThis study was performed to investigate the effect of Alpha-galactosidase (AlphaGal) supplementation with two energy levels on the growth performance, amino acid ileal digestibility coefficient “AID%,” economic value, intestinal histology, and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. Two-hundred 3-day-old broiler chicks (average body weight 74.34 g ±0.52 Ross 308) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of two energy diets groups: in the first group, the birds were fed on a recommended energy diet (RED) while the second group was reduced 120 kcal/kg diet as a low energy diet (LED) and two levels of AlphaGal (0 or 50 mg/kg diet) for RED and LED for the 35-day feeding period.ResultsThe interaction effects between the energy level and the AlphaGal supplementations resulted in significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) in the body weight, body weight gain, and the relative growth rate. The feed conversion ratio was signficantly increased in LED without supplementation of AlphaGal group during the entire experimental period, this negative effect on the growth performance was corrected by AlphaGal supplementation. The AID% value was increased significantly by AlphaGal supplementation. Blood triglyceride concentrations were significantly decreased (P = 0.02) in the LED group with or without AlphaGal supplementation, while the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was significantly decreased (P = 0.01) in the LED or RED groups supplemented with 50 mg RED AlphaGal. Histologically, the number of intestinal glands and goblet cells increased in both RED and LED groups supplemented with AlphaGal and their secretions were mainly neutral mucopolysaccharides and less acidic mucopolysaccharides.ConclusionAlphaGal supplementation improved the growth performance of broiler chickens fed LED and the growth performance is similar to those fed RED, thereby consequently improving the economic value of these diets. AlphaGal supplementation improves intestinal histology and morphology as well.
Highlights
This study was performed to investigate the effect of Alpha-galactosidase (AlphaGal) supplementation with two energy levels on the growth performance, amino acid ileal digestibility coefficient “apparent ileal digestibility (AID)%,” economic value, intestinal histology, and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens
Body weight (BW) and body weight gain (BWG) during the grower period (11 to 23 days) and body weight only during the finisher period (24 to 35 days) increased significantly in the AlphaGal-supplemented group compared to the non-supplemented group (P < 0.05)
The results indicated an association between the feed energy level and the presence of AlphaGal where insignificant decrease in BW, BWG, and relative growth rate (RGR) was observed during the entire experimental period (P < 0.05) and a significant increase was observed (P < 0.05) in the overall feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the low energy diet (LED)+ 0AlphaGal group compared to recommended energy diet (RED)+ 0AlphaGal, RED+ 50AlphaGal, and LED+ 50AlphaGal groups
Summary
This study was performed to investigate the effect of Alpha-galactosidase (AlphaGal) supplementation with two energy levels on the growth performance, amino acid ileal digestibility coefficient “AID%,” economic value, intestinal histology, and blood biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. SBM has higher gross energy than corn, its metabolizable energy is less than that of corn [1] This is due to the higher content of α-galactosides (raffinose and stachyose) in SBM that is indigestible by poultry due to lack of digestive enzymes exhibiting αgalactosidase (AlphaGal) activity [2]. Α-galactosides are heat resistant and are considered anti-nutritional factors [3, 4] Feeding chicks with such compounds in SBMbased diets resulted in a reduction in energy utilization, fiber digestion, and nutrient retention [3]. By supplementing cornSBM diets with AlphaGal, the α-(1 → 6)-glycosidic linkages will be broken giving sucrose and galactose, which may be utilized for providing partial energy and eliminating their negative effects [7, 8]
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