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Influence of enzyme supplementation and heat processing of barley on digestive traits and productive performance of
M García1, R Lázaro, M A Latorre
1Department of Animal Science, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
We studied the influence of enzyme supplementation (ES) of the diet and heat processing (HP) of barley on digestive traits and productive performance of broilers from 1 to 42 d of age. There were 6 diets arranged factorially with 2 doses (0 and 500 ppm) of a fungal enzyme complex with beta-glucanase and xylanase activity and 3 HP of barley (raw, micronized, and expanded). In addition, a control diet based on raw corn without ES was also included from 1 to 21 d of age. Enzymes reduced intestinal viscosity (IV) at all ages (P < or = 0.001) and water intake at 21 d of age (P < or = 0.01) and increased DM of the ileal contents at 28 d (P < or = 0.001). Also, ES increased total tract apparent retention of nutrients and BW gain and feed conversion ratio from 1 to 42 d of age (P < or = 0.001). Heat processing of barley increased IV at 7 and at 28 d of age, and DM of ileal contents (P < or = 0.05) at 28 d of age. In addition, HP improved feed intake (P < or = 0.01) and BW gain (P < or = 0.001) from 1 to 7 d of age, but the effects disappeared after 21 d of age. From 1 to 7 d of age, chicks fed micronized barley had higher IV, gained less weight, and had poorer feed conversion ratio than chicks fed expanded barley (P < or = 0.05). It is concluded that barley with enzymes can substitute for all of the corn in diets fed to broilers from 1 to 21 d of age. Enzymes improved digestive traits, retention of nutrients, and broiler performance from 1 to 42 d of age, and HP of barley improved performance from 1 to 7 d of age. The effects of HP of barley on broiler performance were more evident with expansion than with micronization.
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