NUTRITION
Endogenous enzyme activities and energy utilization of broilers fed sorghum-based diets supplemented with phytase and carbohydrases This study was conducted to evaluate the endogenous enzyme activities and energy utilization of broiler chickens fed sorghum-based diets supplemented with phytase and carbohydrases.
M. Al-Qahtani1, K.I. Al-Qahtani1, E.U. Ahiwe¹, H.J. Gausi¹, M.E. Abdallh¹, E.P. Chang’a¹, M.M. Ari1, M.R. Bedford² and P.A. Iji¹,3 ¹School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, Australia ²AB Vista, Woodstock Court, Marlborough, UK ³ College of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Fiji National University, Koronivia, Fiji
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The birds were housed in cages in climate-controlled rooms. The jejunum and pancreas were collected at 10 and 24 d for analysis of endogenous digestive enzyme activities. Birds were also sampled at hatch and 24 d and analysed for gross energy, fat and crude protein contents. The data were used to calculate heat production, net energy of production and efficiency of energy utilization. There were improvements in digestive enzyme activities and utilization of energy, in terms of metabolisable energy and net energy of production (NEp), suggesting the suitability of the exogenous test enzymes for use in sorghum-based diets. A recent study on Australian sorghum by Selle et al. (2017) reported that sorghum produced in Australia is used almost exclusively for feed, especially cattle, pigs and poultry. The objective of the present research is to assess the response of broiler chickens to diets based on sorghum, when supplemented with a combination of enzymes, targeting different substrates. A total of 648 male and female Ross 308 broiler chickens was randomly assigned in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments [3 doses of phytase none, standard (100 mg/kg) and superdose (300 mg/kg)] × 2 doses of xylanase and of β-glucanase [none and standard (100 mg/kg)] in a completely randomised design. Each of the 12 treatments was replicated 6 times, with 9 birds per replicate.
- nutrition -
