Evaluation of Certain Dietary Enzymes and Probiotics in Yorkshire Piglets

Eighteen Large White Yorkshire piglets (75±1.82 days of age and 24.38±0.12 kg body weight) were evaluated the effect of supplementation of a mixture of enzymes (Cellulase, Xylanase, Proteinase, Galactosidase, Lipase, Phytase, Pectinase, Amylase, β-mannanase and β-glucanase) along with different probiotic microorganisms (B.sporogenes, B.subtilis, B.licheniformis, B.polymyxa, B.megaterium, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces boulardii) in piglet diets on growth performance, feed conversion efficiency and economics. Assessment was also made by in vitro study for the release of sugars in the test diets. Piglets were fed basal diets and assigned randomly to one of two dietary treatments. Dietary treatments included a control diet with high fiber-6.7%; low energy- 2500 Kcal ME/kg (D1; n = 9) and another basal diet supplemented with enzymes and probiotics (D2;n = 9). The final body weight, total gain and ADG were significantly (P<0.01) higher in D2 group compared to control (D1 group). The feed conversion ratio and cost per kg gain was significantly (P<0.01) lower in enzyme (D2) group compared to control group of piglets. The enzyme cost was marginal relative to the benefits achieved and inclusion in swine diets enhances the profitability. The in vitro release of sugars in enzyme supplemented (D2) group and control (D1) group showed that, enzyme supplementation was effective in increasing the release of sugars and in enhancing the digestibility of nutrients. The in vitro sugar release in basal diets with mixture of enzyme supplementation to diet was 281.6 mg/g, compared to the control diet of 257.3 mg/g in grower diets subjected to a two stage in vitro digestion assay for a period of 2 h 45 min incubation. The results indicated that the enzyme supplementation in the grower diet enhanced the growth performance of Yorkshire piglets effectively on the maize-soya diets.