Research Note: Amylase supplementation improves starch and amino acids digestibility of faba bean for broilers

This study aimed to investigate the effect of amylase on the nutritional value and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AME_N) of faba bean (FB) seeds in broiler chicken nutrition. The study was conducted on a total of 84, one-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308). The birds were fed a reference corn-soybean meal diet form d 1 to 16, and they were divided into three groups (1st day). The first group (1) was fed the same reference diet as in the first part, whereas 50% of the reference diet was replaced by FB seeds in experimental groups (2 and 3). Group 3 was supplemented with amylase, which contained 0.14 g/kg dry matter (DM). At the end of the study period, excreta and digesta samples were collected from all groups to estimate the nutritional value. Some fraction of starch found in the seeds was part of starch which is resistant to digestion (143.9 g/kg DM). The addition of exogenous amylase to the diet increased the apparent ileal digestibility of DM, CP, and starch in FB seeds. The AME_N value increased as a result of enzyme addition (P < 0.05). The group 3 showed higher apparent ileal digestibility of essential amino acids (Lys, Leu, Phe, His) as well as nonessential amino acids (Tyr, Ala, Pro) in FB seeds. It could be concluded that FB seeds supplemented with exogenous amylase have a greater nutrition value for broiler chickens.