Immune response of broilers fed conventional and alternative diets containing multi-enzyme complex

R Montanhini Neto,JIM Fernandes,ML Ceccantini

doi:10.1590/s1516-635x2013000300009

R Montanhini Neto, JIM Fernandes + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1516-635x2013000300009

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Abstract

The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of adding a commercial multi-enzyme complex to conventional and alternative broiler diets on the immune response and occurrence of lesions in the intestinal mucosa. In total, 900 male broiler chicks were distributed according to a completely randomized design, with six treatments of six replicates each. Two control diets were formulated: one with conventional feedstuffs (T1), based on corn and soybean meal, and one with alternative feedstuffs (T4), containing corn, millet, and soybean, canola and sunflower meals. Based on these diets, other four were prepared with reduced metabolizable energy, digestible amino acids, calcium and available phosphorus levels and the addition (T3 and T6) or not (T2 and T5) of a multi-enzyme complex. Broilers fed diets based on conventional feedstuffs had higher levels of defense cells compared with those fed diets that included millet with canola and sunflower meals. On the other hand, the use of enzymes in conventional or alternative diets decreased the number of these cells in the ileal mucosa.

Highlights

The quality of feedstuffs for feed production can be highly variable, especially considering their nutritional composition (Maisonnier et al, 2001)
non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) are the main constituents of the cell wall of plant cells, but cannot be digested by poultry due to the nature of the chemical bonds that resist to hydrolysis in the digestive tract (Ramos et al, 2007)
The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of adding a commercial multi-enzyme complex to diets made up by conventional and alternative plant ingredients, with reduced nutritional density, on the immune response and occurrence of intestinal injury in broilers

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The quality of feedstuffs for feed production can be highly variable, especially considering their nutritional composition (Maisonnier et al, 2001). The inability to digest fiber, in addition of reducing feed energy value, can impair the use of all other nutrients This is especially the case of soluble fibers, which present high capacity to absorb water and gelatinize the ingesta in the intestinal tract (Choct et al, 2010). Enzymes hydrolyze NSP from plant ingredients and improve the production efficiency of animals by increasing the digestion of low-quality products and reducing nutrient loss via feces (Kim et al, 2005; Shirmohammad & Mehr, 2011) By calculating this reduction of losses with the better utilization of dietary nutrients, it is possible to decrease the dietary level of nutrients, making cheaper feed, without compromising the broiler performance (Meng et al, 2005). The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of adding a commercial multi-enzyme complex to diets made up by conventional and alternative plant ingredients, with reduced nutritional density, on the immune response and occurrence of intestinal injury in broilers

MATERIAL AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONS