Performance of broiler chicken fed multicarbohydrases supplemented low energy diet

Objective of this study was to investigate the effect of multicarbohydrases supplementation on performance of broilers fed low energy diet.

A total of 75 days old chicks were selected and randomly divided into three treatments groups (T₁, T₂, and T₃); each group contained 25 chicks distributed in five replicates of five chicks each. T₁ group (positive control) was offered control ration formulated as per Bureau of Indian Standards recommendations. In T₂ group (negative control) ration, metabolizable energy (ME) was reduced by 100 kcal/kg diet. T₃ group ration was same as that of T₂ except that it was supplemented with multicarbohydrases (xylanase at 50 g/ton+mannanase at 50 g/ton+amylase at 40 g/ton). Feed intake and body weight of all experimental birds were recorded weekly. Metabolic trial was conducted for 3 days at the end of experiment to know the retention of nutrients.

Significant improvement (p<0.01) was observed in total weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and performance index in broilers under supplementary group T₃ as compared to T₁ and T₂ groups. Retention of crude protein and ether extract was significantly increased (p<0.05) in T₃ group supplemented with multicarbohydrases as compared to other groups. Retention of dry matter, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract was comparable in all the three groups. Significantly highest dressed weight, eviscerated weight, and drawn weight (% of live body weight) were observed in multicarbohydrases supplemented T₃ group, however it was comparable in T₁ and T₂ groups.

It was concluded that the supplementation of multicarbohydrases (xylanase at 50 g/ton+mannanase at 50 g/ton+amylase at 40 g/ton) in low energy diet improved overall performance of broilers.