The effects of enzyme addition to broiler diets containing high concentrations of canola or sunflower meal

The effects of two commercial enzyme products on the nutritive value of can ola meal (CM) and sunflower meal (SFM) were determined in a classical AME b ioassay with special emphasis on the utilization of nonstarch polysaccharid es (NSP). The enzymes were added to semi-purified broiler grower diets base d on corn and casein containing 35% CM or 35% SFM, respectively. Feed intak e, growth, and AME of the diets were significantly (P < 0.001) affected by type of oilseed meal included in the diet. Birds fed the SFM-based diets ha d a significantly (P < 0.001) higher growth rate and AME and a lower feed c onversion ratio (FCR) than did birds fed the CM-based diets. The addition o f enzymes to either CM-or SFM-based diets had no significant effects on gro wth performance and AME; however, the addition of enzymes to CM-based diets resulted in a significant reduction in the concentration of soluble NSP in the jejunum (Enzyme A) or a significant reduction of total NSP in the jeju num (Enzyme B). The AME, was significantly lower in diets containing CM sup plemented with Enzyme B. The addition of enzymes to SFM-based diets signifi cantly improved NSP digestion in the jejunum and protein digestion in the i leum. The results of this study indicate that commercial enzyme products ha d some effects in diets containing high concentrations of CM or SFM. Howeve r, these effects could only be seen after detailed analyses of feed and dig esta and did not result in significant improvement in growth performance of broilers.