Effect Of Enzyme Supplementation Research Articles

Effects of enzyme supplementation on diets of medium-heavy laying hens at 28 to 40 weeks

The aim of this study was to verify the effect of the addition of an enzyme complex on performance (feed intake, egg production, egg weight and egg mass, feed conversion per egg mass, and feed conversion per dozen eggs), and on egg quality (% of shell, albumen and yolk, shell thickness, specific gravity, Haugh unit, yolk index, and albumen index), in medium-heavy laying hens at 28 to 40 weeks of age. A total of 240 Hy-Line Brown laying hens were used in a randomised block design with 10 replications of six birds per lot and four treatments: positive control (basal feed), negative control (with a reduction in metabolisable energy, crude protein, calcium and phosphorus), negative control + enzymes, and positive control + enzymes. The enzyme complex, composed of β-glucanases, β-xylanase, cellulase and phytase, was added to the feed at a ratio of 50 g t-1. The data were submitted to analysis of variance with the mean values compared by Tukey’s test at 5%. There was no difference in feed intake or egg weight between treatments. However, the addition of the enzyme complex to the negative control diet gave results similar to the remaining performance variables when compared to the positive control group. For the external and internal quality of the eggs, there was no difference between treatments for the variables under evaluation, except for the albumin index. It was concluded that use of the enzyme complex in the diet of medium-heavy laying hens gives a reduction in nutritional density without compromising production performance or egg quality.

Effect of enzyme supplements on macronutrient digestibility by healthy adult dogs.

Some enzyme supplement products claim benefits for healthy dogs to compensate for alleged suboptimal production of endogenous enzymes and the loss of enzymes in commercial pet foods secondary to processing. The objective of the current study was to determine macronutrient and energy digestibility by healthy adult dogs fed a commercial maintenance diet with or without supplementation with plant- and animal-origin enzyme products at the dosage recommended by their respective manufacturers. A group of fourteen healthy neutered adult Beagle dogs (average age 8 years) was divided into two equal groups and fed the basal diet alone and then with either the plant- or animal-origin enzyme supplement in three consecutive 10-d periods; the treatment groups received the opposite enzyme supplement in the third period. Digestibility in each period was performed by the total faecal collection method. Serum trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) was measured at the end of each trial. Data were analysed by repeated measures and the α level of significance was set at 0·05. There were no differences in energy and nutrient digestibility between enzyme treatments. When comparing basal with enzyme supplementation, fat digestibility was higher for the basal diet compared with the animal-origin enzyme treatment, which could be a period effect and was not biologically significant (94·7 v. 93·5%). Serum TLI was not affected by supplementation with either enzyme product. Exogenous enzyme supplementation did not significantly increase digestibility of a typical commercial dry diet in healthy adult dogs and routine use of such products is not recommended.

Effect of enzyme supplementation on egg production performance of two strains of White Leghorn chicken

Effect of enzyme supplementation on egg production performance of two strains of White Leghorn chicken

The effect of enzyme supplementation on symptoms and duodenal histology in celiac patients

Background: The etiology of celiac disease (CD) is related to undigested fragments of gluten and gliadin which damage the small bowel. Mucosal enzyme deficiency is an important factor in CD pathology. A clinical trial has shown that the effects of a gluten challenge to patients with CD could be ameliorated by the use of an enzyme supplement. Objective: Enzyme therapy using enterically coated tablets containing caricain (Gluteguard) was investigated as a means of protecting patients with CD against wheat gluten. Methods: A randomized placebo-controlled trial was carried out on 20 CD patients in clinical remission. The patients were divided into a group of 14 given Gluteguard and a group of 6 given a placebo daily. Both groups were given a challenge of 1g of gluten daily. Symptoms were graded and recorded over a period of 42 days. Duodenal tissue was taken at the beginning and end of this period, together with blood for assay of tissue transglutaminase (tTG-IgA) antibodies. Results: The results showed that oral enzyme therapy based on caricain, was effective in ameliorating the symptoms of CD giving a statistically significant difference between treatment and placebo (P<0.01) after 14 days challenge. General well-being was also improved from 6.1 to 8.4 (P< 0.01) by the enzyme therapy. Four of the six placebo group patients (67%) and one of the 14 treatment patients (7%) to withdraw from gluten challenge after 14 days due to development of serious symptoms. The difference between the groups was significant (p < 0.001). For the per protocol patients on Gluteguard therapy, there were no significant changes in markers of histological damage or biopsy results after 42 days of gluten challenge. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that oral anti-gluten enzyme therapy using Gluteguard was able to significantly protect celiac patients from adverse symptoms being induced by gluten challenge. Furthermore, mucosal damage was not exacerbated in patients taking Gluteguard along with their daily gluten challenge, suggesting that the enzyme tablets may also help with the recovery of epithelium in the longer term. Availability of a preventative enzyme treatment like Gluteguard will likely add to the quality of life and well-being of coeliac patients, especially those who have difficulty in strictly adhering to a gluten-free diet.

Effect of enzyme supplementation on nutritive values of fermented palm kernel cake used to substitute soybean meal in broiler diet

Two experiments was designed to improve nutritional values of palm kernel cake (PKC) by biofermentation process, followed by enzyme supplementation to substitute soybean meal (SBM) in broilers diet. A factorial of 2 x 2 design was applied in the first experiment, i.e. fermentation process (non fermented PKC and fermented PKC) and enzyme supplementation (no enzyme and +BS4 enzyme). Dry matter (DM) digestibility, AME and amino acids ileal digestibility (IAAD) of the treatment ingredients were measured in broiler chickens. Seven replications were applied for the DM and AME assays and 3 replications for IAAD assay. Second experiment was designed to study the effect of SBM substitution with enzyme supplemented FPKC (EFPKC). Four diets were formulated, i.e., control diet without EFPKC, 10%, 20 and 40% SBM substituted with EFPKC. All diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of broilers. Each diet was fed to broilers from 1 to 35 d. Body weight, feed consumption, FCR and mortalities were measured. Carcass yield, abdominal fat and weight of liver and gizzard were measured at the end of experiment. Results showed that fermentation of PKC increased the DM digestibility, the AME was also increased but not significant. Enzyme supplementation did not affect the DM digestibility and AME of PKC. Fermentation process significantly (P<0.05) decreased IAAD of some indispensable amino acids. However, supplementation of enzyme did not affect the IAAD of indispensable amino acids. Substitution of soybean meal with EFPKC reduced the feed intake and growth rate of broilers.

Performance and some intestinal functions of broilers fed diets with different inclusion levels of sunflower meal and supplemented or not with enzymes

Enzyme supplementation of diets enhances broiler performance by improving some of the basic production parameters such as average feed intake, feed conversion ratio, or average weight gain. The enzyme NSPase is commonly used in broiler diets containing high levels of viscous cereals such as barley, oat, wheat, or sorghum. The use of NSPase in diets with different levels of sunflower meal has been not been extensively explored. The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of sunflower meal levels in grower and finisher broiler diets supplemented or not with enzymes (cellulase, β-glucanase, and xylanase) on broiler performance, intestinal function, and carcass traits. A completely randomized experimental design, with 3*2 factorial arrangement with five replicates, was applied (1200 Ross 308 broilers). Sunflower meal inclusion and enzyme supplementation started in grower phase. Broiler performance significantly improved in grower phase (weight gain and feed conversion ratio) by enzyme supplementation, while the effect of sunflower meal was evident in finisher phase, when it significantly reduced weight gain. Sunflower meal increased ileal viscosity, and the interaction between diet and enzyme supplementation was statistically significant. Maltase activity was reduced with sunflower meal dietary inclusion, while enzyme supplementation had no effect either on maltase or sucrase activity. There were no any effects of sunflower meal inclusion with or without enzyme supplementation on carcass characteristics. It can be concluded that high inclusion of sunflower meal in broiler diets may impair broiler performance, but this may be overcome by enzyme supplementation. The effect of enzyme supplementation more evident in the grower phase than in the finisher phase.

Effect of enzyme supplementation on the digestibility, blood biochemical and performance of crossbred gilts fed diets with increasing levels of rice bran

Influence of increasing levels (0.0–RB 0, 410 g/kg-RB1 and 820 g/kg-RB2) of rice bran (RB) along with or without feed enzyme (E) supplementation was studied for growth, nutrient utilization, blood biochemical and oestrous in crossbred gilts for 112 days. Pigs (54) were randomly divided into 6 groups and each treatment was replicated 3 times and 3 gilts were housed together in a pen to form the experimental unit. The enzyme complex contained cellulase, ß-glucosidase, xylanase, α-amylase and protease. Feed intake, growth rate, feed: gain was similar but decreased due to the increase in dietary level of rice bran in RB2. DM intake, ADG and feed utilization efficiency was similar in the control and 410 g/kg rice bran incorporated diets, while it reduced significantly in RB2 diet in comparison to control. The digestibility of all the nutrients, except ether extract (EE) was reduced as the proportion of RB increased in the diets. The groups fed rice bran at higher level had lower serum glucose level than any other diets. Enzyme addition to RB2 improved blood glucose level than control. Enzyme supplementation decrease the duration of estrous (h) in gilts fed on RB based diets. It was concluded that addition of feed enzymes did not improve the performance of crossbred gilts fed on diets containing higher level of rice bran.

The effect of protease, amylase, and nonstarch polysaccharide-degrading enzyme supplementation on nutrient utilization and growth performance of broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal-based diets

A study was conducted to determine if amylase and protease addition would improve nutrient digestion during the first 2 wk of growth. The experimental treatments included a control corn-soybean meal-based diet and diets supplemented with either amylase or amylase plus protease. No effect of enzyme supplementation was observed on BW gain and feed conversion ratio. This was corroborated by similar ileal starch and protein digestibility values, which averaged 96.8, 96.8, and 96.9% and 83.9, 80.1, and 79.6%, respectively, for the control and for the amylase or amylase plus protease supplemented diets. Total tract digestibility of starch averaged 97.8, 97.7 and 97.7% for the 3 diets and was followed by a similar diet with AMEn values of 3,129, 3,129, and 3,106 kcal/kg. In another study, a 23 factorial arrangement of 8 dietary treatments was used to evaluate the effect of corn particle size (conventional or coarse vs. fine) and the addition of a nonstarch polysaccharide enzyme, amylase, or both on growth performance and nutrient utilization of broiler chickens from 1 to 21 d of age. Chickens fed a diet containing a conventionally ground corn (geometric mean diameter of 736 µm) showed higher (P < 0.001) BW gain (808 vs. 750 g/bird) and lower feed conversion ratio (1.27 vs. 1.32) than those consuming a fine corn-containing diet (geometric mean diameter of 482 µm). This was further substantiated by a lower AMEn content (2,852 vs. 2,972 kcal/kg). Addition of amylase had no effect on growth performance of chickens fed a conventional corn-containing diet, but improved BW gain, feed conversion ratio, and diet AMEn in those fed the finely ground corn, possibly due to increased starch digestion in the upper gut. Addition of nonstarch polysaccharide enzymes was effective for both diets, with the most pronounced effects observed in feed converstion ratio for the conventional corn-containing diet (1.27 vs. 1.23) and BW gain (750 vs. 789 g/bird) for the fine corn-containing diet. This was followed by the same magnitude of difference in diet AMEn content, which increased from 2,972 to 3,042 and 2,852 to 3,009 kcal/kg following enzyme addition.

Effect of Enzyme Supplementation in Diet for the Growth of Channel Catfish

Channel catfish has practically proven to be one of the species with virtually remarkable performance in fresh water pond culture. Due to better growth rate, good adaptation and acceptability towards artificial feed channel catfish was introduced to Pakistan. A study was conducted to see the role of dietary enzyme Laccasse supplementation in a diet (35% CP) on growth of fingerlings of channel catfish. For this purpose a six week nutrition study was conducted in Aquaria of Aquaculture and Fisheries program (NARC). Fish was fed a locally prepared (35% CP) diet incorporated with three different concentration of Laccasse enzyme i.e., at the rate of 1, 2 and 3 mL/kg. The dietary pellets were prepared and air dried and fed to the fish at the rate of three percent of wet body weight twice daily. Prior to the start of study fish were acclimatized for a period of two weeks on experimental diets. Weights of the fish were recorded at the start and end of trial fortnightly in between. At the end result was deduced through the data of weight gain. The results revealed that Laccasse supplemented at a concentration of 2 mL/kg has higher growth, however it is insignificant (p>0.05) with a concentration of 3 mL/kg. So addition of laccasse in higher concentration or lower concentrations serve no purpose. We concluded that further detailed studies are added to evaluate the role of laccasse enzyme in feed utilization and growth enhancement of channel catfish juveniles.

Effect of Cellulytic Enzyme Supplementation (Extracted from Chatomium thermophyle) on Production Performance and Economic Appraisal in Aged Layers Using High Fiber Diets

One hundred and twenty white leghorn layers of 80 weeks having uniform body weight were randomly divided into 15 experimental units of 8 birds each and reared under standard managemental conditions. Five treatments (each having three replicates) i.e. control T1 (commercial layer mash), T2 (layer mash having 6% fiber + 1X enzyme), T3 (layer mash having 8% fiber + 1X enzyme), T4 (layer mash having 6% fiber + 2X enzyme) and T5 (layer mash having 8% fiber + 2X enzyme) were randomly allotted to experimental units. Egg production, egg weight and feed consumption were recorded for eight weeks. Egg mass, feed conversion ratio/dozen egg and feed conversion ration/kg egg mass was also calculated. Data was analyzed statistically using analysis of variance technique under completely randomized design. Treatment means were compared using least significant test. It was found that egg production increased significantly by the T2 but was non-significant with the control group. The different treatments showed significant decrease in feed consumption as compared with control group. Significant improvement in egg mass was found in control group and was non-significant with T2 and T4. There was significant effect of enzyme supplementation on feed conversion ration/dozen egg and feed conversion ratio/kg egg mass. T2 and T4 showed best feed conversion ratios per dozen and per kg egg mass. Maximum profit/bird was observed in T2 followed by T4, T5, T3 and T1, respectively

Enzymes in broiler diets with special reference to protease

Enzyme supplementation of poultry diets is nutritionally, economically and environmentally justified. Enzymes are used to increase the energy value of feed ingredients and enhance the utilisation of protein, fats, carbohydrates and phytin phosphorus from plant materials, leading to a lower excretion rate of undigested nutrients into the environment and, hence, reduced environmental pollution. This is especially important regarding proteases, as the correct digestion of nitrogenous compounds in feed materials is essential for reducing N excretion – a major pollutant worldwide. Numerous studies have shown no adverse effects of enzyme supplementation in broiler diets on body weight, mortality, health, feed intake, FCR, nutrient digestibility, meat quality and production costs. However, there is still a large amount of uncertainty regarding the use of enzymes.

β‐Mannanase production by Aspergillus niger BCC4525 and its efficacy on broiler performance

Mannan is a hemicellulose constituent commonly found in plant-derived feed ingredients. The gum-like property of mannan can obstruct digestive enzymes and bile acids, resulting in impaired nutrient utilisation. In this study, β-mannanase production by Aspergillus niger strain BCC4525 was investigated using several agricultural residues under solid state condition. The biochemical properties of the target enzyme and the effects of enzyme supplementation on broiler performance and energy utilisation were assessed. Among five carbon sources tested, copra meal was found to be the best carbon source for β-mannanase production with the maximum yield of 1837.5 U g(-1) . The crude β-mannanase exhibited maximum activity at 80 °C within a broad range of pH from 2 to 6. In vitro digestibility assay, which simulates the gastrointestinal tract system of broilers, showed that β-mannanase could liberate reducing sugars from corn/soybean diet. Surprisingly, β-mannanase supplementation had no significant effect on broiler feed intake, feed conversion rate or energy utilisation. A high level of β-mannanase was produced by A. niger BCC4525 under solid state condition using copra meal as carbon source. Although the enzyme has the desired properties of an enzyme additive for improving broiler performance, it does not appear to be beneficial.

Understanding the cellulolytic system of Trichoderma harzianum P49P11 and enhancing saccharification of pretreated sugarcane bagasse by supplementation with pectinase and α-l-arabinofuranosidase

Supplementation of cellulase cocktails with accessory enzymes can contribute to a higher hydrolytic capacity in releasing fermentable sugars from plant biomass. This study investigated which enzymes were complementary to the enzyme set of Trichoderma harzianum in the degradation of sugarcane bagasse. Specific activities of T. harzianum extract on different substrates were compared with the extracts of Penicillium echinulatum and Trichoderma reesei, and two commercial cellulase preparations. Complementary analysis of the secretome of T. harzianum was also used to identify which enzymes were produced during growth on pretreated sugarcane bagasse. These analyses enabled the selection of the enzymes pectinase and α-l-arabinofuranosidase (AF) to be further investigated as supplements to the T. harzianum extract. The effect of enzyme supplementation on the efficiency of sugarcane bagasse saccharification was evaluated using response surface methodology. The supplementation of T. harzianum enzymatic extract with pectinase and AF increased the efficiency of hydrolysis by up to 116%.

Effects of exogenous dietary enzyme on growth, body composition, and fatty acid profiles of cultured great sturgeon Huso huso fingerlings

The effects of enzyme supplementation on growth, body proximate, and fatty acid composition of great sturgeon Huso huso fingerlings were investigated. Multienzyme (Kemin®) was added to diet in different concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 mg/kg). Fingerlings were randomly stocked in tanks and fed with the experimental diets three times a day at 5–10% body weight for 46 days. Fingerlings fed diets containing 250 mg/kg exogenous enzyme exhibited higher weight gain and specific growth rate. This level of enzyme in the diet significantly improved feed conversion ratio. Body protein and moisture decreased slightly when fish fed with enzyme-supplemented diets while fat increased. Fingerlings fed with 500 mg/kg enzyme in diet had higher contents of n-3 essential fatty acids and lower n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio. Optimum growth performance in great sturgeon fingerlings can be obtained by 250 mg/kg multienzyme in the diet.

Altos níveis de fitase em rações para frangos de corte

Avaliaram-se o desempenho, o coeficiente de digestibilidade da matéria seca (CDMS), da proteína bruta (CDPB), a retenção aparente de cálcio (Ca) e fósforo (P) e a energia metabolizável aparente corrigida para balanço de nitrogênio (EMAn) de dietas suplementadas com altos teores de fitase (FTU) para frangos, até 35 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 1848 pintos, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com sete tratamentos e oito repetições de 35 aves. Os tratamentos foram: T1: dieta-controle; T2: dieta com inclusão de 1.500FTU/kg; T3: 3.000FTU/kg; T4: 4.500FTU/kg; T5: 6.000FTU/kg; T6: 8.000FTU/kg e T7: 10.000FTU/kg de ração. No 10º e 28º dias de experimento, quatro e três aves, respectivamente, foram transferidas para gaiolas de metabolismo. A partir da inclusão de 4.500FTU/kg, o desempenho das aves de 1 a 35 dias foi semelhante ao das aves do grupo-controle (P&gt;0,05). Não houve diferença (P&gt;0,05) entre os tratamentos nos CDPB e nos valores de EMAn, porém, na fase inicial, observou-se maior aproveitamento da MS com os altos níveis de fitase (P&lt;0,05). Em relação à retenção de Ca e P, houve efeito positivo da suplementação enzimática, com aumento significativo do uso desses minerais pelas aves. Concluiu-se que é possível suplementar altos teores de fitase valorando adequadamente os nutrientes da dieta.

An integrativein vitroapproach to analyse digestion of wheat polysaccharides and the effect of enzyme supplementation

The digestion of polysaccharides from the wheat cultivars Caphorn and Isengrain was investigated, and the efficiency of an enzyme preparation was tested using the TNO gastrointestinal model (TIM-1). The apparent digestibility (AD) of carbohydrates was determined based on the measurement of organic matter (OM), total monosaccharides, reducing ends (RE) and end products (EP: glucose, maltose and xylobiose). The AD of the OM from Caphorn and Isengrain measured using caecectomised cockerels did not differ from that measured using TIM-1: 72.0 (SD 2.6) v. 70.6 (SD 0.6) % for Caphorn (P = 0.580) and 73.0 (SD 2.3) v. 71.1 (SD 1.9) % for Isengrain (P = 0.252). After the 6 h TIM-1 digestion, 41.4-58.9 % of the OM, RE and EP were recovered from the jejunal compartment and 18.3-27.1 % from the ileal compartment, while ileal deliveries and digestive residues constituted the remainder. A commercial enzyme cocktail tested at 0.2 μl/g of wheat improved TIM-1 digestibility of Caphorn and Isengrain polysaccharides: 3.9 % (P = 0.0203) and 3.4 % (P = 0.0058) based on the OM; 9.7 % (P < 0.0001) and 3.1 % (P = 0.031) based on the total glucose; 47.2 % (P < 0.0001) and 14.2 % (P = 0.0004) based on the RE, respectively. The enzyme cocktail improved the release of the EP for Caphorn (3.8 %, P = 0.008) but not for Isengrain ( − 0.8 %, P = 0.561). The higher efficiency of the enzyme supplementation on the digestion of Caphorn polysaccharides compared with Isengrain seems to be linked to the higher soluble carbohydrate contents and/or less ramified arabinoxylan of Caphorn.

Feeding native laying hens diets containing palm kernel meal with or without enzyme supplementations: 1. Feed conversion ratio and egg production

SUMMARY Oil extraction from the palm kernel produces a large amount of palm kernel meal (PKM), a by-product having considerable potential nutritive value for poultry. Increasing its use and improving its nutritive value in poultry diets is especially important in palm oil-producing countries. This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of the inclusion level of PKM in laying hen diets on egg production and egg quality. One hundred eighty 48-wk-old native laying hens were assigned to 180 cages (1 bird per cage) in a curtain-sided house. Diets were assigned at random to 15 cages each. The experimental diets resulted from a factorial combination of 3 levels of PKM (0, 15, and 30%), 2 levels of a fiber-degrading enzyme [0 and 15 units of β-glucanase (major enzyme) activity/kg of diet; Ronozyme VP, DSM Nutritional Products Inc., Basel, Switzerland], and 2 levels of phytase + protease mixture [0 and 2,000 units of phytase (Ronozyme NP) + 12,500 units of protease (Ronozyme ProAct) activity/kg of diet; both products of DSM Nutritional Products Inc.]. Diets were isocaloric (2,758 kcal of ME/kg) and contained 17.51 to 18.39% CP, and were provided ad libitum together with water for the 6-wk trial. Six-week feed intake increased as the PKM level increased (3,573 vs. 3,791 vs. 4,022 g/hen for the hens fed 0, 15, and 30% PKM, respectively; P ≤ 0.008). Levels of PKM did not affect egg production, feed conversion, or egg weight. Egg quality traits (albumen height, Haugh units, eggshell thickness, and egg surface area) of hens fed 15 or 30% PKM were comparable with those fed the 0% PKM (corn and soybean meal) except that yolk color was paler when the PKM diets were fed (8.15 vs. 7.08 vs. 5.61 for the hens fed 0, 15, and 30% PKM, respectively; P ≤ 0.0001). Because PKM inclusion resulted in no deleterious effects on egg production and quality, no effects of enzyme supplementation could be measured. Depending on consumer preference, a carotenoid source may be needed when PKM is included in the diet at levels of 15% or above.

Effect of enzyme supplementation and wheat middlings as an alternative to corn on laying hens performance

A 7-wk trial examined the effects of dietary enzyme supplementation (ES), a combination of xylanase, amylase and protease on egg production, egg mass, egg composition, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and nutrient retention in Hy-Line W-36 strain fed diets containing wheat middlings (WM) combined with Avizyme 1500 enzyme (xylanase, protease and amylase) at different dietary metabolizable energy (ME) levels. Seven diets were assigned to five replicate pens with 4 hens per pen from 44 to 51 week of age. The collected data indicated no significant difference in feed consumption, egg production, egg mass and body weight occurred among hens fed the dietary treatments. Egg weight responded significantly to ES (P<0.01), especially when hens were fed the low energy diet with ES. Egg components were not affected by diet or by ES. Apparent ME was affected significantly by diet (3071 for control vs 2920 kcal/kg for WM diets). Type of diet had the most significant effect on performance while ES to WM diets at this phase of production had little effect on performance or apparent nutrient retention especially when it was supplemented to the low energy diets. Including WM in laying hen diets up to 30% did not affect most measured parameters and could serve as a good alternative to corn depending on the price of corn.

Effects of Enzyme Supplementation on Performance, Carcass characteristics, Carcass Composition and Some Blood Parameters of Broiler Chicken

Problem statement: Endogenous enzymes of broilers cannot adequately digest nonstarch polysaccharides and subsequently the ingestion of high levels of soluble NSP leads to increased digesta viscosity and reduced nutrient digestibility and absorption. Supplementation of NSPs degrading enzymes may remove the anti nutritive effects of NSPs and release some nutrients (starch, protein) from these elements. Therefore, in a completely randomized design the effects of a multi-enzyme (Endofeed W produced from Aspergillus niger, with minimum activity of 2250 u g−1 xylanase and 700 u g−1 β-glucanase) supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics, carcass composition and some blood parameters in Cobb 500 broilers fed on corn-soybean meal-wheat diets were studied. Approach: A total of 150 one-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were used in a completely randomized design with 2 treatments and 3 replicates. The main ingeridients of diets included corn, soybean meal and wheat. The enzyme levels added to the diets were 0.00 (control) and 500 mg kg−1 DM. Results: Enzyme supplementation significantly improved relative growth, energy efficiency and protein efficiency from 11-28 days of age. Adding enzyme significantly decreased body weight gain, feed intake and improved feed to gain ratio, energy efficiency and protein efficiency from 29-44 days of age (p<0.05). Relative growth, energy efficiency and protein efficiency was increased and body weight gain, feed intake and feed to gain ratio was decreased by enzyme supplementation from 1-44 days (p<0.05). Enzyme addition significantly increased carcass and thighs + drumsticks percentages at 44 days of age. Adding enzyme significantly increased the concentration of blood Triiodothyronine (T3) at 28 and 44 days and reduced the concentration of blood Thyroxine (T4) at 44 days of age. Enzyme inclusion increased the concentration of blood total cholesterol at 10, 28 and 44 days of age, however triglyceride concentrations increased at 10 and 44 days (p<0.05). The concentration of blood uric acid was significantly decreased at 28 and 44 days in broilers fed enzyme supplemented diets. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that supplementation diets with 500 mg kg−1 multi-enzyme (Endofeed W) in corn-soybean meal-wheat based diet improved broiler chickens feed to gain ratio, carcass yield and it can change the concentrations of thyroid hormones and some metabolites in blood, but it had not significant effect on carcass composition.

Effect of enzyme supplementation on the nutritive value of malted sorghum sprout in the rat

The composition of malted sorghum sprout (MSP) and its nutritive value when supplemented with an exogenous enzyme was investigated using weanling albino rats. A nitrogen free basal diet was formulated along with a soya bean meal (SBM) reference diet (10% CP) and two test diets each containing 10% CP supplied by MSP. One of the two diets was further supplemented with Roxaxyme which is an exogenous enzyme that contains cellulase, glucanase, hemicellulase and protease. The 40 weanling albino rats used for the experiment were divided into 4 groups of 10 rats and each group was allotted to the different diets. The rats were individually housed in cages with facilities for separate urine and faecal collection. Performance characteristics and blood components of the rats were used as criteria of response. MSP contains 199.7, 28.3, 83.0, 74.9 and 52.9 g kg-1 of CP, EE, CF, ash and NFE respectively. Potassium (16.67 g kg-1) and Fe (589.93 mg kg-1) were the most abundant major and trace minerals respectively. The correspondingly least abundant minerals are Ca (0.59g kg'1) and Cu (221 g kg-1). Supplementation of MSP diet with exogenous enzyme significantly increased (P&lt;0.05) the growth rate, feed intake, protein efficiency ratio, net protein retention and apparent protein digestibilities of the rats. But all these values were lower (P&lt;0.05) than those obtained for the reference (SBM) diet. Serum, Na+ K+ Cl, HCO3, were increased (P&lt;0.05) in rats that received MSP diets. While the levels of serum total protein, albumin, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase did not vary significantly with dietary treatments. Addition of enzyme increased (p&lt;0.05) the level of serum cholesterol in rats. It was concluded that the nutritive value of MSP is quite low. However, supplementing MSP based diets with suitable exogenous enzymes could enhance its feeding value. Keywords: Malted sorghum sprout, Enzyme supplementation, nutritive value, Rat