Passage Rate of Digesta from Soybean Meal, Wheat Bran and Rice Bran Diets with or without a Multi- enzyme Supplementation in Broiler Chickens

The effect of a multi-enzyme (Biomix) supplementation on the rate of feed passage, mean retention time, gut morphology, digesta viscosity and performance of broiler chickens was determined in a 21-day experiment between August and September, 2014.

Two hundred and sixteen one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly allotted to 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Of the 6 diets containing soybean meal, wheat bran and rice bran, 3 were supplemented with the enzyme and 3 without enzyme. Each diet had 6 replicates with 6 birds each. Cumulative and non-cumulative excretion data were calculated from excreta chromium concentration. Viscosity was determined in digesta from birds and a section of the ileum removed for measurement of ileal morphological parameters.

Feed type significantly (P = .05) improved body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Time of 50% (T50) and 1% (Tl) chromium excretion were significantly (P = .05) decreased with enzyme addition. Non-cumulative excretion data yielded similar results. Enzyme supplementation significantly (P = .05) reduced retention time by 0.25h and increased (P =.05) feed passage rate, villus height and crypt depth in the chickens. Digesta viscosity was also significantly (P = .05) reduced by enzyme addition.

In conclusion, results of the study showed that enzyme supplementation of diets improved digesta passage through the gut, improved ileal morphological characteristics and performance in broilers.