Influence of dietary phytase and protease, individually or in combination, on growth performance, intestinal morphology, microbiota composition and nutrient utilisation in broiler chickens fed sesame meal-based diets

Abstract

Efficacy of phytase and protease supplements, individually or in combination, on growth performance, carcass, intestinal morphology, microbiota composition and nutrient digestibility was investigated in broilers fed diets containing sesame meal. A total of 375 day-old male broiler chickens of ROSS 308 strain were randomly allocated into five dietary treatments with five replicates per treatment and 15 broilers per each. Dietary treatments were T1: a basal diet (control), T2: sesame meal diet (150 g/kg sesame meal to replace soybean meal), T3: T2 + 500 FTU/kg phytase, T4: T2 + 0.2 g/kg protease and T5: T2 + combination of phytase and protease supplements. At the end of the study, body weight gain of the T5 broilers was greater than those of the T1 birds (p<.05). Feed conversion ratio improved in broiler chickens fed the T3, T4 and T5 diets compared with T1 diet (p<.05). An increase in villus length (VL) was found in broilers which received T3, T4 and T5 diets compared with control (p<.05). The greatest value of crypt depth (CD), and villus surface area observed in the birds fed with T4 diet compared with control (p<.05). Inclusion of phytase in broiler diet increased VL/CD ratio compared with control group (p<.05). Combination of phytase and protease (T5) increased the caecal Lactobacillus and decreased E. coli counts compared with T1, T2 and T4, while T3 group was intermediate (p<.05). Ileal nutrients digestibility was greatest in broilers which received T5 diet (p<.05). In conclusion, addition of protease and phytase to sesame meal diets may be a suitable strategy for improving growth performance, intestinal morphology, microbiota composition and nutrient utilisation in broiler chickens. Highlights Combination of phytase and protease enzymes in sesame meal diets improved growth performance, nutrient utilisation and microbiota activity of broiler chickens. Supplemental phytase or protease improved jejunal morphology of broiler chickens fed sesame meal diets.