Effect of Exogenous Protease, Mannanase, and Xylanase Supplementation in Corn and High Protein Corn DDGS Based Diets on Growth Performance, Intestinal Morphology and Nutrient Digestibility in Broiler Chickens

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of exogenous enzymes supplementation in high protein (Hi-Pro) corn DDGS-based diets on broiler growth performance, intestinal health, and nutrient digestibility. A total of 200 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four dietary treatments with five replicates of 10 birds each. A basal diet (CON) was formulated (CP: 20%; ME: 2900 Kcal/kg) containing 15% of dietary crude protein share from Hi-Pro corn DDGS. Three experimental diets were developed using basal diets; diet one was supplemented with protease (CON-P), diet two with an enzyme mix of mannanase and xylanase (CON-MX) and diet three with a protease and enzyme mix of mannanase and xylanase. A digestibility assay was carried out using Celite (insoluble acid ash), from day 29 to day 35. On day 35, four birds from each replicate were picked randomly and killed by cervical dislocation to collect ileal digesta. In addition, duodenum, jejunum and ileum lengths were measured, and tissue samples were collected from midpoints of jejunum to note villus height and crypt depths. Feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were not affected by dietary treatments during the entire study period (p>0.05). Likewise, no difference in carcass characteristics, soft organ weight, intestinal morphology, apparent amino acids digestibility and visible ileal digestible energy was observed by the dietary treatments (p>0.05).Supplementation of exogenous protease and enzyme mix (mannanase and xylanase) had no effect on growth performance, intestinal integrity and nutrient availability of broiler chickens fed Hi-Pro DDGS-based diets.