EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF NON-STARCH POLYSACCHARIDE DEGRADING ENZYMES ON GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKS

M. A. Nadeem, M. I. Anjum, A. G. Khan and A. Azim

Animal Nutrition Programme, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agriculture Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad 45500, Pakistan

Abstract 

    An experiment was conducted to study the performance and carcass parameters of broilers chicks fed diets with and without supplementing non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes (NSPDE) at the rate of 0.5 g/kg diet. A total of 300 day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into 12 sets (replicates) each comprising 25 chicks and three sets per treatment group, reared on deep litter from 1-42 days post-hatch. Group A was fed diets without NSPDE supplementation, while group B was fed diets supplemented with NSPDE (0.5 g/kg). Group C was fed diets containing 50 kcal/kg less metabolizable energy (ME) without NSPDE and group D was fed diets having 50 kcal/kg less ME with NSPDE (0.5 g/kg) supplementation. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 1-28 days and 1-42 days was significantly (p<0.05) improved in chicks fed NSPDE supplemented diets (groups B and D) compared to non-supplemented diets (groups A and C). However, during 29-42 days of growing period enzymes supplementation did not influence feed intake and FCR. Body weight gain, dressing percentage and relative weights of heart, gizzard and shank at 42 days of age was found to be non-significantly different among all groups. However, liver weight reduced significantly (p<0.05) in NSPDE supplemented groups. The study suggested that NSPDE supplementation was beneficial in enhancing feed utilization during the starter phase, while its effects on weight gain, dressing percentage and weights of organs, except liver weight, were found to be non-significant.