The Effect of Phytase and Glucanase on the Ileal Digestible Energy of Corn and Soybean Meal Fed to Broilers

Abstract

The current research was designed to determine the effect of phytase and glucanase on the energy value of corn and soybean meal (SBM) separately for broilers at various ages. The treatments were arranged as a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial, with 0 or 500 phytase units/kg or with 0 or 500 units of glucanase/kg, supplemented to either corn or SBM, with each combination represented by 6 cages of 10 birds. Diets of pure corn and soybean meal were not supplemented with additional nutrients, and were fed for 3-d periods beginning at 7, 14, or 21 d of age, representing the immature, transitional, and mature digestive tract, respectively. Each experiment was performed on a different group of birds from the same hatch. At the end of each experimental period, the broilers were euthanized and the contents of the ileum, duodenum and jejunum (pooled), and pancreas were removed for analysis. The ileal samples were analyzed for acid-insoluble ash and gross energy to determine the ileal-digestible energy (IDE) of the feedstuffs. The pancreas and duodenal-jejunal samples were analyzed for proteolytic and amylase activity to determine the influence of practical levels of phytate on enzyme activity. Results showed that neither phytase nor glucanase influenced enzyme activity in the digesta or pancreas, suggesting that practical levels of phytate did not influence the activity of proteolytic enzymes or amylase. Phytase did not influence the IDE value of either corn or SBM, and improved DM digestibility of the feed only for corn fed at 21 to 23 d. Glucanase improved IDE in both the corn and SBM diets at all ages, and improved DM digestibility in corn diets at all ages and SBM diets fed at 14 to 16 d. The IDE and DM digestibility of corn and the digesta and pancreatic enzyme activities increased with age, whereas the IDE of SBM was similar among age groups. The relative effect of glucanase on IDE of both feedstuffs was similar among age groups.

Non-starch polysaccharides and their role in fish nutrition – A review

“…This allows water hydration and permits pancreatic proteases and amylases to act, enabling better digestion of the starch and protein. Xylanases and to a lesser extent cellulases have been proven most effective in broilers (Leslie, Moran, & Bedford, 2007). Mannanases and pectinases have shown good results in a soy-based diet (Jackson, Geronian, Knox, McNab, & McCartney, 2004).…”

Effects of corn source on the relationship between in vitro assays and ileal nutrient digestibility

“…Broilers were fed the experimental diets (corn mixed with 0.5% TÍO2 added as an inert marker) for 72 h (28 to 30 d of age), according to Leslie et al (2007). Gorn was fed as-is without supplemental vitamins or minerals.…”

“…Gorn was fed as-is without supplemental vitamins or minerals. The duration of the experiment was assumed to permit interpretation of digestibility data free from confounding by potential nutritional deficiencies (Sullivan et al, 1974), as described by Leslie et al (2007). Birds weighed >1.3 kg at the start of the experimental period and consumed approximately 100 g of corn/bird/day.…”

Efficacy and Metabolizable Energy Equivalence of an α-Amylase-β-Glucanase Complex for Broilers

“…Amylase secretion is low at 4 d of age ; however, increases in its pancreatic secretion seem to flatten between 7 to 21 d Uni et al, 1995). The benefits of a β-glucanase in corn-soy diets are expected to be lower than in wheat-and barley-based diets due to a much smaller proportion of its substrate in that type of feed; however, there are few studies with this type of enzyme in corn-soy diets (Leslie et al, 2007;Rutherfurd et al, 2007;Cowieson et al, 2010). It may be possible that the association with α-amylase could render measurable improvements when fed to broilers.…”