Effect of enzyme supplementation on the performance of broilers fed maize,wheat, barley or micronized dehulled barley diets

The effects of an enzyme preparation on the performance and carcass charact eristics of broilers fed diets based on maize, wheat, hulled barley (Bedfor d) or micronized dehulled barley (MDB) (Bedford) diets were evaluated. A co mmercial enzyme containing beta -glucanase and xylanase was used. One thous and and nine hundred-twenty one-day-old broiler were used for this study. T he broilers fed the MDB diets had a lower average daily gain (ADG) (P<0.05) and lower average daily feed intake (ADFI) (P<0.05) than the broilers fed the other diets. There was a significant period x grain interaction (P<0.05 ) for ADG with the broilers on the barley diets performing better in the gr ower phase. The broilers received enzymes showed an enzyme x period interac tion with the feed conversion rate (FCR) of those birds in the starter phas e doing better (P<0.05) than in the grower phase compared to those fed the unsupplemented diets. The birds fed MDB diets had higher digesta viscosity than birds fed unprocessed barley, maize or wheat diets (P<0.01). Feed enzy me addition to the MDB diet caused a decrease (P<0.01) in the digesta visco sity by 49% and an improvement (P<0.05) feed conversion ratio (FCR) both fo r the starter and the grower phase.