Effect of commercial enzymes on the performance of broilers

A feeding trial of 6 weeks duration was conducted on 400 male broiler chicks to evaluate the effect of commercial enzymes on performance of broilers fed maize-soyabean based diets. Four test diets were prepared by supplementing enzyme preparations (El, E2, E3 & E4) separately to reference diet. (E1) diet contained reference diet + cellulase + amylase+ xylanase + protease +phytase, (E2) reference diet + cellulase + amylase+ xylanase + protease + phytase, (E3) reference diet + cellulase + amylase + phytase, (E4) reference diet + cellulase + amylase + phytase. To eaeh diet 8 replicates each of 10 male broiler chicks were allotted. Performance of broilers in terms of weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency, livability, and dressing yields were studied. All the four test diet groups recorded significantly (P<0.05) improved weight gain at 42 days of age, while E4 and reference diet was comparable. The feed intake values at 42d of age with all test groups were significantly (P<0.05) higher than reference. The feed efficiency, dressing yields, liver weight, giblets weight, abdominal fat weight, intestinal weight and length, besides moisture content of litter and livability were not influenced. It appears that cellulase is the enzyme concerned in improving the weight gain of broilers. It is also possible that the enzyme preparations might have released the trapped nutrients and improved nitrogen utilization in the finisher diet.