Feed enzymes eliminate the anti-nutritive effect of non-starch polysaccharides and modify the fermentation in broilers

A study was undertaken to examine the effect of a glycanase product on fore- and hind-gut fermentation in soluble non-starch polysaccharide (NSP)-enriched broiler diets. The enzyme product increased (P<0.01) weight gain, feed efficiency and apparent metabolizable energy (AME), and was highly effective in reducing viscosity along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Comparing viscosities (mPa.s) between birds fed the NSP-enriched diet and the same diet supplemented with enzyme showed 11.9 vs 2.3 in the duodenum; 78.3 vs 4.4 in the jejunum and 409.3 vs 10.8 in the ileum, respectively. Caecal volatile fatty acid (VFA) production was markedly (P<0.01) elevated by enzyme supplementation, whereas ileal fermentation was inhibited. The current results suggest that extensive fermentation in the small intestine may be detrimental to birds as the ileal VF A levels and the AME values were negatively correlated (r=-0.83). Adding a synthetic antibiotic (Amoxil) in the drinking water had no beneficial effect on bird performance.