Effect of supplementation of NSP hydrolysing enzymes on growth performance of Japanese quail*

A study was conducted to find out the effect of supplementation of Non Starch Polysaccharides (NSP) hydrolysing enzymes (One gram contained 437 IU of cellulase, 1736 IU of xylanase and 383 IU of pectinase activities) at 0.025, 0.050 and 0.075 per cent levels in Japanese quail diets from day-old to five weeks of age. A significant increase fifth week body weight gain (P<0.01) and feed efficiency were noticed in enzyme supplemented groups. Supplementation of 0.05 per cent enzyme resulted in 5.75 per cent increase in body weight gain at fifth week over the control group. Feed consumption, carcass and organoleptic characteristics and mortality did not indicate any significant variation between treatments. The feed cost per kg of meat produced during growing period was reduced by Rs. 0.94 in 0.05 per cent NSP hydrolysing enzyme supplemented group when compared to control group.