Effect of Pre-Treating Dietary Green Seaweed with Proteolytic and Fibrolytic Enzymes on Physiological and Meat Quality Parameters of Broiler Chickens

Abstract

The use of seaweeds as nutraceuticals in chicken diets is limited by high fibre levels and low protein digestibility. Therefore, we tested the effect of pre-treating dietary seaweed (Ulva sp.) with a combination of protease and fibrolytic enzymes on physiological and meat quality parameters of Cobb 500 broilers. Five dietary treatments were formulated by including untreated (T1); fibrolytic (12 g/kg) enzyme-treated (T2); fibrolytic (12 g/kg) and protease (5 g/kg) enzyme-treated (T3); fibrolytic (12 g/kg) and protease (10 g/kg) enzyme-treated (T4); fibrolytic (12 g/kg) and protease (15 g/kg) enzyme-treated (T5) seaweed (35 g/kg) in a standard broiler diet. Three hundred, two-week-old chicks (239.3 ± 8.57 g live weight) were evenly distributed to 30 replicate pens to which the diets were then randomly allocated. Birds fed diet T1 had the highest feed intake (1144.5 g/bird). Neither linear nor quadratic trends were recorded for growth performance and carcass traits in response to protease pre-treatment levels. Gizzard weight linearly increased, while symmetric dimethylarginine, calcium, meat pH24, and hue angle24 quadratically responded to protease levels. Diet T1 promoted the lowest serum phosphorus levels (3.37 mmol/L). In conclusion, pre-treatment of seaweed with a combination of protease and fibrolytic enzymes did not improve diet utilization, physiological parameters, and meat quality in broilers.

Effect of seaweed (Ecklonia maxima) on apparent nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and physiological and meat quality parameters in Boschveld cockerels

“…These findings support those of Lokaewmanee et al (2012) and Matshogo et al (2020) , who reported that the use of dietary seaweeds in broiler diets does not affect the birds’ health status. The recorded hematological values were within the normal ranges reported for healthy chickens ( Nhlane et al, 2020 ; Matshogo et al, 2021 ). The enzymes, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ), are standard biomarkers for diagnosing hepatocellular injury.…”

Plasma Metabolites and Liver Composition of Broilers in Response to Dietary Ulva lactuca with Ulvan Lyase or a Commercial Enzyme Mixture

“…Feed enzymes appear as a solution, since Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes) were previously supplemented in broiler chicken diets for their ability to degrade intricate matrices of carbohydrates present in microalgae [ 14 , 15 ], macroalgae such as Laminaria digitata [ 16 , 17 ] and Ulva sp. [ 18 , 19 , 20 ] or grains [ 21 , 22 ]. Recently, an in vitro study showed the ability of a recombinant ulvan lyase from family 25 of polysaccharide lyases (PL25) to partially disrupt the U. lactuca cell wall and, thus, release mono- and oligosaccharides and some monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (e.g., 18:1 c 9) [ 23 ].…”

Poultry Meat Quality in Antibiotic Free Production Has Improved by Natural Extract Supplement

“…Similar data were reported by Abudabos et al [ 23 ] who observed that the dietary inclusion of Ulva lactuca (30 g/kg) in broiler chicken had no effect on feed intake and body weight gain. In addition, Matshogo et al [ 24 ] reported that green seaweed meal inclusion in Cobb 500 broiler diets had no effects on overall growth performances. It is possible that in chickens, the presence of non-starch polysaccharides such as cellulose and hemicellulose in seaweeds affect digestibility with no effects on growth performance [ 24 ].…”

“…In addition, Matshogo et al [ 24 ] reported that green seaweed meal inclusion in Cobb 500 broiler diets had no effects on overall growth performances. It is possible that in chickens, the presence of non-starch polysaccharides such as cellulose and hemicellulose in seaweeds affect digestibility with no effects on growth performance [ 24 ]. In disagreement with our data, Choi et al [ 25 ] reported that dietary supplementation with 0.5% of brown seaweed by-products resulted in higher average daily gain in broiler.…”