Influence of Avizyme 1500 on Performance of Commercial Leghorns

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the influence of a corn-soy enzyme, Avizyme 1500 (AZ1500) in hen diets on performance and profits of commercial Leghorns. A 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments comprising three lysine levels (0.75, 0.83, and 0.92%), two energy levels (2,820 and 2,906 kcal ME/kg), and two AZ1500 levels (0 and 0.075%) were used. Hy-Line W-36 hens (n = 1,920) were randomly assigned in groups (20 hens/group) to the 12 dietary treatments for 16 wk. Feed intake (FI), egg production (EP), egg weight (EW), egg specific gravity (SG), and BW were determined. Inclusion of AZ1500 in the diet resulted in interactions with energy and lysine content of the diet, influencing FI, EP, and BW. AZ1500 increased FI of hens fed highenergy diet when lysine was 0.75 and 0.83%, but not at 0.92%. This increase in FI was not observed in hens fed the low-energy diet. AZ1500 increased EP at lower lysine levels but not at the higher level. AZ1500 also increased EP at the low-energy level but not at the high-energy level. Increasing dietary lysine from 0.75 to 0.92% linearly increased EW (P < 0.001) and decreased SG (P < 0.05). AZ1500 or dietary energy had no effect on EW or SG (P > 0.05). A BW increase at 0.83% lysine due to AZ1500 was not observed at 0.75 or 0.92% lysine. Inclusion of AZ1500 in the diet increased the relative amount of bacteria (e.g., Lactobacillus spp.) in the caecum in the 30 to 40% range of guanine plus cytosine and decreased the relative amount of microbes (e.g. Bifidobacterium spp.) in the 60 to 70% range of guanine plus cytosine. These results indicate some positive influences of AZ1500 on energy and lysine (protein) utilization in hens, impacting EP, FI, and BW. However, more research is required to learn how to maximize the beneficial effects of AZ1500 on energy utilization in hens.