Effect of NSP hydrolyzing enzymes on broiler performance

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) hydrolyzing enzymes on the performance of broilers fed maize-soyabean based diets. In experiment I, four diets i.e. (i) a reference diet consisting of maize andsoyabean meal, (ii) reference diet + cellulase (420 IU/kg feed), (iii) reference diet + xylanase + pectinase (4025 and 5 IU/kg feed, respectively) and (iv) reference diet + commercial enzyme. Each diet was offered to 8 replicates with g chicks in each. In experiment II, four diets were prepared: (i) a reference diet without enzyme, (ii) reference diet + xylanase + pectinase (40253 and 53 IU/kg feed, respectively), (iii) reference diet + xylanase + pectinase + α-galactosidase (40253, 53 and 20 IU/kg feed, respectively) and (iv) reference diet + xylanase + pectinase + α-galactosidase + cellulase (40253, 53, 20 and 60 IU/kg feed respectively). To each diet 14 replicates each of 5 chicks were allotted. In experiment I, a significant (P≤0.05) improvement occurred in weight gain at 0–28 d in xylanase + pectinase (4025 and 5 IU/kg feed). However, feed intake and feed efficiency were unaffected. In experiment II, addition of agalactosidase (20 IU/kg feed) to xylanase + pectinase (40253 and 53 IU/kg feed) supplemented diets significantly (P≤0.01) depressed weight gain compared to the reference diet. This effect was alleviated on further addition of cellulase (560 IU/kg feed) to the diet containing the later combination. Carcass traits were unaffected'in both the experiments. The study indicated no beneficial effect of NSP enzymes on broiler performance.