α-Galactosidase Enzyme Supplementation to Corn and Soybean Meal Broiler Diets

Over the last few years in the southeastern U.S. some broiler diets have been supplemented with phytase to improve phosphorus digestibility. Enzymes other than phytase, however, have not been added to broiler diets, in the southeastern U.S., with any consistent results because nutrient availability of corn and soybean meal based broiler diets is high. Moreover, most commercially available enzyme preparations are designed to allow nutritionists to include relatively high-protein grains [i.e., wheat (≈11.0%) and barley (≈11.0%) versus corn (≈8.0%)] in broiler diets. Thus, nutritionists have little experience using enzymes in broiler diets based on corn or sorghum and soybean meal. Two broiler floor-pen experiments were conducted to evaluate postpellet enzyme (KEMZYME C/S for broilers) application to corn and soybean meal diets at different environmental temperatures (warm versus thermoneutral). Growth responses, immunity, and carcass attributes of broilers were measured. The primary active enzyme in the product tested was α-galactosidase, which may improve energy digestibility of soybean meal. Broilers fed diets supplemented with enzyme preparations primarily containing α-galactosidase had improved feed conversion at both environmental temperatures.