Using Enzymes to Improve Broiler Performance

Soybean meal often contains significant levels of soluble galactans, mannans or oligosaccharides of the raffinose series that may cause nutritional disorders when ingested. Cellulases and xylanases are very effective in improving the nutritive value of barley, wheat or rye based diets for broiler chicks through the hydrolysis of soluble glucans and arabinoxylans. A study was undertaken to identify the most important exogenous enzymatic activities for decreasing the detrimental effects associated with the ingestion of soybean meal soluble polysaccharides. The data showed that birds fed on a mash corn-soybean meal based diet supplemented with the enzyme mixture Ronozyme® VP displayed improved final body weight. In vitro enzyme assays suggested that the positive effect associated with the intake of Ronozyme® VP is correlated with the presence of galactanase and mannanase activities. This study suggests that hydrolysis of mannans and galactans by exogenous enzymes in maize-soybean meal based diets result in an improvement of broiler performance.

Maria S.J. Centeno, Maria S.J. and co-workers. 2006. Galactanases and mannanases improve the nutritive value of maize and soybean meal based diets for broiler chicks" The J. Poultry Sci. 43: 344-350 (Japanese Poultry Sci. Association).