Live Performance and Microbial Load Modulation of Broilers Fed a Direct-Fed Microbials (DFM) and Xylanase...

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Poultry Nutrition
• Microbiology

Background:

• The animal industry seeks cost-effective solutions to enhance animal performance and health.
• Feed additives are crucial for improving feed's nutritive value and replacing antibiotic growth promoters (AGP).
• Probiotics and enzymes are increasingly explored for their beneficial effects in animal diets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of a feed additive blend (multi-strain Bacillus spp. probiotics and xylanase) on broiler chickens.
• To evaluate the impact of this additive on live performance, gut health, and pathogen load.
• To compare the efficacy of the additive in corn- and wheat-based diets.

Main Methods:

• A 2x2 factorial design was used with two levels of the feed additive (EnzaPro) and two cereal grain types (corn and wheat).
• Broiler chickens were fed experimental diets from day-old to 42 days of age.
• Live performance, intestinal lesion scores, environmental Clostridium perfringens load, and digesta pathogen loads (E. tenella, APC, E. coli, C. perfringens) were assessed.

Main Results:

• Birds supplemented with EnzaPro showed significantly heavier live weights and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR).
• EnzaPro supplementation reduced intestinal lesion scores, particularly in wheat-based diets.
• A significant reduction in litter moisture and pathogen load (C. perfringens, E. tenella, APC, E. coli) in digesta was observed with EnzaPro supplementation.

Conclusions:

• EnzaPro, a blend of Bacillus probiotics and xylanase, effectively improves broiler performance and gut health.
• The additive can be incorporated into both corn- and wheat-based diets.
• EnzaPro presents a promising alternative to antibiotic growth promoters for enhancing broiler production.