Implications of b-glucanase and pentosanase enzymes in low-energy low-protein barley and wheat based broiler diets

This study was conducted to test the effects of a commercial enzyme (with beta-glucanase and pentosanase activities) supplemented into low-protein low-energy barley and wheat based broiler diets on broiler performance. The enzyme was added at 500 g/ton into broiler grower and finisher diets consisting of mainly wheat at 76%, 85% or barley 67%, 75%, respectively. Four dietary treatments were wheat, wheat + enzyme, barley, barley + enzyme. Each treatment had six replications. This experiment was planned according to a completely randomised design by placing ten 14-day-old mixed male and female chicks into one experimental cage unit with wire floor. Cobb broiler chicks were used in this study. Experimental grower and finisher diets were fed to chicks between 14-28 and 28-42 days of age, respectively. One-day-old chicks were fed a standard starter diet (23% protein; 12.77 MJ ME/kg) according to NRC (1994) recommendations. Grower diet and finisher diets were formulated to be 10% lower than NRC (1994) with respect to the protein and metabolisable energy content. Body weight, average weight gain (14-42 days period), feed intake and feed efficiency ratio were measured at 42 days of age. The results of this study demonstrated that the enzyme with beta-glucanase and pentosanase activities supplemented into barley-based broiler diets significantly (P < 0.05) improved body weight by 10%, from 1 779 to 1 958 g, and gain by 12%, from 1 485 to 1 657 g, respectively. However, when the same enzyme was supplemented into wheat-based diets, no improvement (P < 0.05) was obtained in body weight and feed efficiency, being 1 723 and 1 677 g and 1 973 and 1 957, respectively for wheat and wheat + enzyme groups. The feed efficiency ratio was also significantly (P < 0.05) improved in barley-based diet from 1.898 to 1.845 by enzyme addition during the 14-42 days experimental period.