Effect of supplementing non starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes to corn soybean meal based diets varying in energy on performance, egg quality, nutrient utilization and gut health in layers

A study was undertaken to develop a suitable NSP enzyme combination through a series of two stage in vitro digestion assay to improve nutrient utilization from corn-soybean meal based diets for layers and same was assessed in vivo. Based on the in vitro studies, the best NSP enzyme combination i.e., xylanase, 10000; cellulase, 200 and β-D-glucanase, 100 IU/kg diet was selected. The selected enzyme combination was supplemented to four layer diets varying in energy concentration. The diets were standard energy diet (2600 ME kcal/kg) (SD) and other were low energy diets having 100 (LE₁), 200 (LE₂) and 300 (LE₃) kcal lower ME/kg diet than the ME of standard diet. The experiment was conducted on two hundred and forty layer birds (40 weeks) for three laying periods with twenty eight days in each laying period. Significant (P<0.01) interaction of dietary energy concentration and NSP enzymes was observed on percent hen day production during 2^nd period. The feed intake was higher (P<0.05) in LE₃ compared to SD and LE_1. NSP enzyme supplementation increased (P<0.01) intestinal length. The mean shell weight in birds fed LE₂ or LE₃ was significantly (P<0.05) higher than those fed SD and LE₁. Irrespective of level of energy, NSP enzymes addition significantly (P<0.01) improved the utilization of DM, OM, CP, CF, EE, NFE and GE. Intestinal pH, viscosity and E. coli count was reduced (P<0.01) in NSP enzymes supplemented groups compared to un-supplemented ones. It can be concluded that supplementing NSP enzymes to low energy diets can sustain egg production, concomitantly reducing the cost of production.