Effects of Exogenous Enzymes Addition to Wheat based Diets on Growth Performance of Male Broiler (Ross 308) Chickens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding four commercial multi-enzymes on growth performance, meat yield, water intake, litter moisture, jejunal digesta viscosity, and characteristics of the gastrointestinal tract of chicks fed wheat-based diet in comparison with control and corn-based diets. Two hundred and thirty four, one-day-old, Ross 308, male chicks were distributed into pens in a randomized complete block design with six treatments each with three replicate of 13 birds. In all of rearing periods, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and related parameters were not significantly (P≥0.05) affected by enzyme supplementation, exception following cases. The relative weight of the breast as proportion of live weight was significantly (P≤0.05) decreased by fed diets included enzymes B, C, and D and corn diet in comparison with control diet. The relative weight of the abdominal fat as proportion of live weight at 28 and 42 days of age was significantly (P≤0.05) increased by fed diet included enzyme B and corn diet, and diet included enzyme A and corn diet, respectively, in comparison with control diet. Therefore, these results led to the conclusion that it is possible to use high levels of some varieties of wheat (with low-non-starch polysaccharides) instead of corn in broiler diets without enzyme supplementation.