Abstract
Research into the use of prebiotics in poultry feed is widespread, including research into the application of fermentable oligosaccharides. Previous studies evaluating glucomannans demonstrated safety for broiler embryos, benefits on intestinal microbiota modulation, and inducing immune response. In this series of studies with broilers, layers, and turkeys, the effects on growth performance and egg production with feeding short, medium, and long chain glucomannans were evaluated. Glucomannans used in the current study were produced through acid polymerization of mannose monomers and tested in diets in a dose range from 0.02 to 2%. Current results show that chain length and dietary inclusion level of glucomannans provide species dependent effects. In broilers, the combination of studies indicated benefits on growth performance with short or long chain glucomannans at 0.02 and 0.20% in the diet, respectively. No major effects were observed in egg quality and production by layers fed either 0.02% short or medium chain glucomannans. In turkey hens, feeding diets with 0.20% medium chain glucomannan modulated intestinal microbiota, favouring the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Bifidobacteria. Overall, in poultry species, incorporation of mannosepolymerized glucomannans with short, medium, and long chains at levels up to 0.20% resulted in improved growth performance in some of the studies depending on trial setup, challenge conditions and provided prebiotic effects.
Published Version
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