INFLUENCE OF FEED ENZYMES ON NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY AND PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE OF LAYING HENS
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Date
1995
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COLLEGE OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES Mannuthy - Thrissur
Abstract
The influence of feed enzymes, viz., cellulase or protease
supplemented at levels of 0.06 or 0.02 per cent respectively, on nutrient
availability and on production performance was evaluated in a standard and
a less dense layer ration using one hundred IWN strain of Single Comb
White Leghorn pullets of 20 weeks of age for an experimental period of 20
weeks. A standard layer ration was formulated as per BIS, 1993. with 18 per
cent crude protein and 2600 kcal of ME per kg of feed and a less dense layer
ration with 16 per cent crude protein and 2500 kcal of ME per kg of feed. A
few feed ingredients such as jowar, deoiled rice bran, wheat bran and
undecorticated sunflower cake were included in both rations. A numerical
improvement was noticed in percentage hen-housed and hen-day egg
production in enzyme treated groups, however, the increase in egg number
was not statistically significant. Egg weight and egg quality characteristics
such as yolk and albumen indexes, Haugh unit scores and shell thickness
were not afifected by enzyme treatment. A positive influence of the enzymes
on feed intake by birds was observed in as much as the feed intake with less
dense ration supplemented with enzymes was not different statistically from
those with the control ration. There was positive enzyme effect on feed per
egg in treatment groups on standard layer ration with both enzymes and in
less dense ration with protease. Feed efficiency for egg production (egg
number) was significantly higher in birds fed standard layer ration with
cellulase and protease than those on other treatments (P<0.05). There was
improvement in digestibility of crude protein and utilisation of energy, even
though the differences noted were not significant statistically. The enzyme
treatment of rations reduced moisture content of excreta. The microbial load
on the surface of eggs was comparatively low in enzyme treated groups. The
intestinal viscosity was reduced with enzyme addition in feed mixtures. The
cost-benefit analysis indicated that but for the prohibitive enzyme cost, the
feed enzymes were nutritionally beneficial. Based on the present investigation
it is concluded that there is tremendous scope for enzymes in feed industry,
especially at the present context of feed shortages and the emphasis for the
utilisation of alternative feed resources in poultry rations.
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