Vol 3(2) May’13

International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Effects of Multi-enzyme Supplementation on Nutrient Digestibility in Broiler

Chickens
R. Balamurugan1 D. Chandrasekaran, J. Ramesh and A. Kirubakaran
Department of Animal Nutrition, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal-637 001,
Tamil Nadu (India)
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Nutrition, Madras Veterinary College, Chennai-7.
Corresponding Author: nutritionbalu@gmail.com
Rec.Date: Mar 21, 2013 00:34; Accept Date: Apr 23, 2013 07:5

Abstract

A biological trial in broilers was conducted with seven treatments (T1) control as per NRC specification,
(T2) control plus 0.05 and (T3) 0.1 per cent enzyme, and (T4) 0.2 per cent, (T5) 0.4 per cent reduction in
di calcium phosphate with 0.05 and 0.1 per cent enzyme mixtures plus phytase, with (T6) 2.5 per cent and
(T7) 5.0 per cent reduction in metabolizable energy, crude protein, lysine and DL methionine with
enzyme mixtures at 0.05 and 0.1 per cent respectively. The dry matter digestibility and ether extract
digestibility were significantly (P<0.01) increased in enzyme added groups (T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T2,
T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 respectively) over that of control. The protein metabolizability was improved in
enzyme supplemented groups (T2, T3, T4, T5) over that of control. The digestibility of NDF and
hemicellulose was significantly increased (P<0.01) in enzyme treated groups (T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) than
the control. The ADF and cellulose digestibility’s were significantly (P<0.01) higher in all enzyme added
groups over that of control group.
Key words: NDF, metabolizability, digestibility, ADF, hemicellulose, cellulose.

Introduction
The tremendous growth in poultry industry the demand for poultry feed has also been growing in direct
proportion to its growth. The pressure on the feed ingredients availability and their quality is mounting
year by year. Most of the feed ingredients used in the poultry diet contain non-starch polysaccharides
(NSPs) at different concentrations. The anti nutritional effects of NSPs have been attributed to the
increased viscosity ofintestinal contents, reduced digestibility of nutrients (Choct and Annison, 1990).
The use of enzyme containing cellulase, hemicellulase, pectinase and phytase was found to be helpful in
enhancing the nutritive value of feedstuff with high NSPs (Friesen et al. 1992) and phytate phosphorus
(Simons et al. 1990). Hence the present study to asses the digestibility of feed ingredients in broiler
chickens fed on multi enzyme supplemented diet.
Materials and Methods
Feed ingredients, procured locally, were used for the formulation of diet. Seven experimental starter and
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finisher diets were formulated (NRC, 1994). The NSP hydrolysing enzymes and phytase were included in
the rations of treatment groups as follows. T1- Control (without enzyme); T2 - 500 g/ton NSP
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hydrolyzing enzyme; T3 -1000 g/ton NSP hydrolyzing enzyme; T4-500 g/ton NSP hydrolyzing enzyme +
 Vol 3(2) May’13
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Phytase, 0.2 per cent Di-calcium phosphate reduction; T5-1000 g/ton NSP hydrolyzing enzyme +
Phytase, 0.4 per cent Di-calcium phosphate reduction; T6- 500 g/ton NSP hydrolyzing enzyme, 2.5 per
cent reduction of metabolizable energy, crude protein, lysine and methionine; T7 1000 g/ton NSP
hydrolyzing enzyme, 5.0 per cent reduction of metabolizable energy, crude protein, lysine and
methionine. The digestibility and metabolizability studies were conducted for a period of 7 days selecting
12 birds from each treatment. The first 3 days served as an adaptation period. The excreta was collected
during the last 4 days and pooled for further analysis. The excreta were analyzed for dry matter, crude
protein, ether extract and fibre fractions adopting standard procedures. The apparent digestibilities of dry
matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, hemicellulose, cellulose,
metabolizability of protein, were studied. The data collected on various parameters were statistically
analyzed as per the method of Snedecor and Cochran (1989).
Table 1: Ingredient and nutrient composition of broiler finisher diet (% DM basis)

Treatments
Ingredients (%)
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7
Maize 54.4 54.4 54.4 54.7 55.2 58.3 62.2
Soya 37.3 37.3 37.3 37.3 37.2 35.4 33.5
Rice bran oil 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.6 5.4 3.7 1.7
Dicalcium phosphate 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.1 0.9 1.3 1.3
Calcite 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3
DL Methionine (g/100kg) 150 150 150 150 150 146.2 142.5
Additives and supplements
685 685 685 685 685 685 685
(g/100kg)
Treatments
Nutrients
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7
Dry matter 90.44 90.42 90.47 90.55 90.62 90.77 90.64
Crude protein 20.02 20.05 20.10 20.05 20.11 19.52 19.04
Crude fibre 3.34 3.38 3.28 3.47 3.42 3.49 3.53
NDF 11.03 10.88 11.16 10.94 11.17 11.16 11.42
ADF 1.55 1.48 1.59 1.54 1.57 1.60 1.61
Hemicellulose 9.48 9.40 9.58 9.40 9.61 9.80 9.82
Cellulose 1.22 1.24 1.26 1.23 1.24 1.27 1.29
Lignin 0.358 0.346 0.357 0.357 0.350 0.369 0.389
Ether extract 8.62 8.45 8.52 8.59 8.61 7.45 4.64
Total ash 6.31 6.25 6.32 5.99 6.11 4.87 4.21
NFE * 61.71 61.87 61.78 61.9 61.75 64.67 68.58
Acid insoluble ash 1.90 1.91 1.90 1.94 1.93 1.92 1.89
Calcium 0.90 0.91 0.90 0.85 0.80 0.89 0.89
Available phosphorus 0.35 0.36 0.34 0.32 0.29 0.35 0.35
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Lysine * 1.01 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 0.97 0.95

Methionine 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.38 0.37 0.36
Cystine+ Methionine * 0.72 0.71 0.72 0.72 0.72 0.70 0.68
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Metabolisable energy (kcal/kg)* 3205 3205 3205 3205 3205 3123 3045
 Vol 3(2) May’13
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

1. Mineral mixture at the added level per kg feed supplied manganese-54 mg,
2. zinc-52 mg, iron-20 mg, iodine-2 mg, copper-2 mg and cobalt-1mg.
3. Vitamin AB2D3K at added per kg feed supplied vitamin A-8250 IU, B2-5 mg, D3-1200 IU and
vitamin K-1 mg.
4. Vitamin B complex at added level per kg feed supplied, thiamine 1 mg, pyridoxine 2 mg,
cyanocobalamine 15 mcg, vitamin E 10 mg, niacin 15 mg, calcium D pantothenate 10 mg and
folic acid 1 mg.
5. Coccidiostat at the level added per kg feed supplied 125 mg of Di-nitro-ortho-toluamide.
6. Antibiotic (Oxy tetracycline) 0.5 g was added per kg of feed.
*Calculated values

Results and Discussion

Digestibility and metabolism

The effects of enzyme supplementation on digestibilities of dry matter, ether extract, NSPs and
metabolizability of protein are presented in Table 2. A significant increase (P<0.01) in dry matter
digestibility was observed in T2, T3, T4, T5 and T7 groups (66.80, 65.01, 66.58, 65.92, 65.71 per cent)
when compared to the T1 except T6 (61.95, 63.17 per cent). Similarly, Danicke et al., (1997) reported that
addition of xylanase to rye based broiler diet significantly (P<0.001) improved the dry matter
digestibility. The mean value of protein metabolizability of birds fed diets T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7
was 61.30, 65.46, 65.64, 66.67, 66.28, 64.0 and 63.04 per cent. Significantly higher (P<0.01) protein
metabolizability was observed in T2, T3, T4 and T5 groups compared to T1. Numerically higher protein
metabolizability was recorded in the T6 and T7 groups when compared to control. Similarly, Zanella et
al. (1999) observed that supplementation of Avizyme 1500 (0.1 per cent) containing xylanase, amylase,
and protease in broiler diets based on corn and soybeans, significantly (p<0.05) improved the protein
digestibility. Zhang et al. (2012) reported that, supplementation of 100 mg/kg of enzymes in corn based
diet is sufficient to maximize the nutrient utilization and energy conversion significantly (P<0.05) in corn
based diets.

Ether extract digestibility

The percent mean value of ether extract digestibility was 78.44, 85.34, 83.26, 84.75, 84.68, 84.23 and 83.98
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T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 groups respectively. Enzyme supplementation was able to improve the
digestibility of ether extract significantly (P<0.01) over that of the control. The digestibility of ether extract
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was nearly similar in the various enzyme supplemented groups. Friesen et al. (1992) observed an increased
 Vol 3(2) May’13
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

Table 2. Effect of different levels of enzyme supplementation on digestibility’s of dry matter, ether
extract, NSPs and metabolizability of protein in broiler chickens

Dry Ether
Treatment Protein NDF ADF Hemicellulose Cellulose
matter extract
groups (%) (%) (%) (%) (%)
(%) (%)
61.95a ± 78.44a ± 61.30a ± 42.55a ± 15.69a ± 24.35a ±
T1 51.85a ± 0.48
0.80 0.81 0.92 0.82 0.88 0.47
66.80c ± 85.34b ± 65.46bc ± 46.20b ± 22.45b ± 30.83b ±
T2 56.27b ± 0.94
0.62 0.79 0.58 0.72 0.89 0.85
65.01bc ± 83.26 b ± 65.64bc ± 46.71b ± 22.75b ± 32.49bc ±
T3 56.46b ± 0.79
0.88 0.88 0.64 0.79 0.79 0.65
66.58c ± 84.75 b ± 66.67c ± 47.23 b ± 22.09b ± 33.43c ±
T4 56.82b ± 0.67
0.95 0.40 0.92 0.72 0.95 0.78
65.92bc ± 84.68 b ± 66.28c ± 47.34 b ± 23.28 b ± 33.63c ±
T5 56.84b ± 0.86
0.47 0.71 0.59 0.83 0.87 0.40
63.17ab ± 84.23 b ± 64.00abc ± 45.87 b ± 22.25 b ± 33.74c ±
T6 55.84b ± 0.89
0.88 0.44 0.73 0.85 0.68 0.65
65.71bc ± 83.98 b ± 63.04ab ± 44.77ab ± 21.88 b ± 31.54bc ±
T7 54.49ab ± 0.54
0.34 0.43 0.84 0.89 0.61 0.47

Each value is mean of six observations. Means with atleast one common superscript in a column do not
differ significantly (P<0.01).

digestibility of lipid up to a level of 3 per cent in wheat based, 17 per cent in Bedford barley based, 24 per
cent in rye based, 34 per cent in oat based and 36 per cent in scout barley based diet due to supplementation
of cellulase.

NSPs digestibility

The per cent mean values of NSPs digestibilities (NDF, ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose) in birds fed diets
T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 are presented in Table 2. The NDF digestibility of different treatment groups
T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 was 42.55, 46.20, 46.71, 47.23, 47.34, 45.87, 44.77 per cent respectively. A
significant (P<0.01) increases in NDF digestibility was observed in T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 groups when
compared to the T1. The results are in close agreement with Kavitha Rani et al., (2003) who an
supplementation of NSP hydrolyzing enzymes to corn soyabean based diet increased the NSP degradation by
45% in the enzyme supplemented group compared to 25% in the control. Similarly, the ADF digestibility of
the enzyme added groups was also significantly (P<0.01) higher than the control group. The ADF
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digestibility of T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 was 22.45, 22.75, 22.09, 23.28, 22.25 and 21.88 per cent
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respectively over that of control (15.69 per cent). The hemicellulose digestibility (per cent) was significantly
 Vol 3(2) May’13
International Journal of Livestock Research ISSN 2277-1964 ONLINE www.ijlr.org

(P<0.01) increased in T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 groups (56.27, 56.46, 56.82, 56.84, 55.84) when compared with T1,
T7 (51.85, 54.49 per cent). The mean per cent cellulose digestibility was 24.35, 30.83, 32.49, 33.43, 33.63,
33.74 and 31.54 per cent in T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7 respectively. Significantly (P<0.01) increased
digestibility was noticed in enzyme supplemented groups over that of the control group. Among the enzyme
treatment groups T2 recorded significantly (P<0.01) decreased cellulose digestibility compared with T4, T5
and T6. In this study it was observed that supplementation of NSP degrading enzyme was able to enhance the
degradability of NSP’s significantly over that of the un supplemented group.

The results are in close agreement with earlier reports of Slominiski and Campbell (1990) who observed that
addition of 1 per cent enzyme to canola meal based layer diet, improved the cellulose digestibility from 0.1 to
13 per cent.

Conclusion

The digestibility’s of dry matter and ether extract were significantly (P<0.01) increased in T2, T3, T4, T5,
T7 and T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7 groups respectively. The protein metabolizability was significantly
(P<0.01) increased in enzyme added groups (T2, T3, T4, T5) compared to the control group. The NDF
and hemicellulose digestibility was significantly (P<0.01) increased in treatment groups T2, T3, T4, T5,
T6 than the control. All the enzyme supplemented groups had significantly (P<0.01) increased the
digestibility’s of ADF and cellulose over that of control group.

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