Influence of enzymes on performance and digestive parameters of broilers fed rye-based diets

Departamento de Produccion Animal, ETSI Agronomos, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.

An experiment was conducted to study the influence of enzyme supplementation (ES) to rye-based diets on rate of food passage through the digestive tract, viscosity of jejunum content, volatile fatty acid concentration in ceca, and performance of broilers. There were seven treatments; six diets arranged factorially with three varieties of rye (Petkus, Prima, and Saratov V) and two levels of ES (0 or 500 ppm of an enzyme complex containing 858 IU of beta-glucanase and 864 IU of xylanase/g) and an additional control diet based on corn. Each treatment was replicated seven times (12 chicks caged together), and the trial lasted 25 d. Rye feeding increased intestinal viscosity and impaired bird performance at 25 d (P < 0.001). Among rye diets the greatest feed intake and weight gain were obtained with Petkus variety, which also produced the lowest intestinal viscosity. Enzyme addition reduced the time needed to recover 1% (0.78 vs. 0.98 h; P < 0.05) and 50% (4.2 vs. 6.5 h; P < 0.01) of the marker in feces and reduced the mean retention time of marker in the gastrointestinal tract (17.1 vs. 18.8 h; P < 0.05). Also, ES reduced intestinal viscosity (P < 0.001) and improved feed intake, daily gain, and feed conversion of birds from 4 to 25 d (P < 0.01) but did not modify volatile fatty acid concentration in ceca. We concluded that ES added to rye diets decreased intestinal viscosity and accelerated digestive transit, improving productive performance of broilers.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Jimenez-Moreno, J. M. Gonzalez-Alvarado, A. Gonzalez-Serrano, R. Lazaro, and G. G. Mateos Effect of dietary fiber and fat on performance and digestive traits of broilers from one to twenty-one days of age Poult. Sci., December 1, 2009; 88(12): 2562 - 2574. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Jimenez-Moreno, J. M. Gonzalez-Alvarado, R. Lazaro, and G. G. Mateos Effects of type of cereal, heat processing of the cereal, and fiber inclusion in the diet on gizzard pH and nutrient utilization in broilers at different ages Poult. Sci., September 1, 2009; 88(9): 1925 - 1933. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. M. Safaa, E. Jimenez-Moreno, D. G. Valencia, M. Frikha, M. P. Serrano, and G. G. Mateos Effect of main cereal of the diet and particle size of the cereal on productive performance and egg quality of brown egg-laying hens in early phase of production Poult. Sci., March 1, 2009; 88(3): 608 - 614. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. M. Gonzalez-Alvarado, E. Jimenez-Moreno, D. G. Valencia, R. Lazaro, and G. G. Mateos Effects of Fiber Source and Heat Processing of the Cereal on the Development and pH of the Gastrointestinal Tract of Broilers Fed Diets Based on Corn or Rice Poult. Sci., September 1, 2008; 87(9): 1779 - 1795. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Garcia, R. Lazaro, M. A. Latorre, M. I. Gracia, and G. G. Mateos Influence of Enzyme Supplementation and Heat Processing of Barley on Digestive Traits and Productive Performance of Broilers Poult. Sci., May 1, 2008; 87(5): 940 - 948. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. P. Buchanan, L. B. Kimbler, A. S. Parsons, G. E. Seidel, W. B. Bryan, E. E. D. Felton, and J. S. Moritz The Effects of Nonstarch Polysaccharide Enzyme Addition and Dietary Energy Restriction on Performance and Carcass Quality of Organic Broiler Chickens J. Appl. Poult. Res., January 1, 2007; 16(1): 1 - 12. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]