Effects of exogenous β-glucanase on ileal digesta soluble β-glucan molecular weight, digestive tract characteristics, and performance of coccidiosis vaccinated broiler chickens fed hulless barley-based diets with and without medication

Abstract

Introduction Limited use of medication in poultry feed led to the investigation of exogenous enzymes as antibiotic alternatives for controlling enteric disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of diet β-glucanase (BGase) and medication on β-glucan depolymerization, digestive tract characteristics, and growth performance of broilers. Materials and methods Broilers were fed hulless barley (HB) based diets with BGase (Econase GT 200P from AB Vista; 0 and 0.1%) and medication (Bacitracin and Salinomycin Na; with and without) arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial. In Experiment 1, 160 broilers were housed in cages from d 0 to 28. Each treatment was assigned to 10 cages. In Experiment 2, broilers (2376) were housed in floor pens and vaccinated for coccidiosis on d 5. Each treatment was assigned to one floor pen in each of nine rooms. Results In Experiment 1, the soluble β-glucan weighted average molecular weight (Mw) in the ileal digesta was lower with medication in the 0% BGase treatments. Peak molecular weight (Mp) and Mw were lower with BGase regardless of medication. The maximum molecular weight for the smallest 10% β-glucan (MW-10%) was lower with BGase addition. In Experiment 2, Mp was lower with medication in 0% BGase treatments. Beta-glucanase resulted in lower Mp regardless of medication, and the degree of response was lower with medication. The MW-10% was lower with BGase despite antibiotic addition. Body weight gain and feed efficiency were higher with medication regardless of BGase use through-out the trial (except d 11–22 feed efficiency). Beta-glucanase resulted in higher body weight gain after d 11 and worsened and improved feed efficiency before and after d 11, respectively, in unmedicated treatments. Conclusion BGase and medication caused the depolymerization of soluble ileal β-glucan. Beta-glucanase acted as a partial replacement for diet medication by increasing growth performance in coccidiosis vaccinated broilers.

Association of gut microbiota and SCFAs with finishing weight of Diannan small ear pigs

“…The CAZyme comparison analysis reflected that glucanase and glucosidase were more active in pigs with high finishing weights. Previous research has shown that glucanase supplementation could elevate the ratio of villi height to crypt depth, improve the absorption of nutrients, and finally promote body weight gain (Karunaratne et al, 2021). Furthermore, a greater abundance of glucosidase in the intestinal microbiome resulted in increased body weight gain in broilers (De Cesare et al, 2017).…”

Compound non-starch polysaccharide enzymes improve growth performance, slaughter performance, immune function, and apparent utilization rate of nutrients in broiler chickens fed a low-metabolizable energy diet

“…These findings suggest that β-mannanase can improve utilization of feed nutrients by reducing intestinal chyme viscosity and increasing carbohydrate utilization ( 24 , 25 ). Research has shown that β-glucanase effectively decreases levels of non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) and crude fiber in wheat or barley diets ( 26 – 28 ). Similarly, the beneficial effects of xylanase on the growth performance of broilers have been widely reported ( 29 , 30 ).…”