Performance of Broiler Chicken Fed Sub-Optimal Energy Diets Supplemented With Enzymes and Prebiotics Alone or in Combination

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of supplementing Non-starch Polysaccharide enzymes and prebiotics alone or in combination to sub-optimal energy corn soybeanbased broiler diets on performance. 150 day old broiler chicks were randomly distributed in to five experimental groups, six replicates per group and five birds per replicate. A standard diet (SD) and a basal diet (BD) (225 kcal/kg ME less) was formulated for prestarter, starter and finisher periods. Supplementing BD with Non-starch Polysaccharide enzymes with or without prebiotics had no effect on total body weight gain and feed intake. FCR improved with addition of NSP enzymes alone or in combination with prebiotics. The retention of OM, CP and GE was significantly (P<0.05) improved with addition of NSP enzymes along with prebiotics. NSP enzymes alone and or in combination with prebiotics to BD reduced (P<0.05) intestinal pH, viscosity, cost of feeding and cost of production per kg live weight gain compared to BD and SD.