Passage Rate of Digesta from Soybean Meal, Wheat Bran and Rice Bran Diets with or without a Multi- enzyme Supplementation in Broiler Chickens
A. F. Agboola *
Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
A. O. Oke
Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
E. A. Iyayi
Department of Animal Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The effect of a multi-enzyme (Biomix) supplementation on the rate of feed passage, mean retention time, gut morphology, digesta viscosity and performance of broiler chickens was determined in a 21-day experiment between August and September, 2014.
Two hundred and sixteen one-day-old Arbor Acres broiler chickens were randomly allotted to 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design. Of the 6 diets containing soybean meal, wheat bran and rice bran, 3 were supplemented with the enzyme and 3 without enzyme. Each diet had 6 replicates with 6 birds each. Cumulative and non-cumulative excretion data were calculated from excreta chromium concentration. Viscosity was determined in digesta from birds and a section of the ileum removed for measurement of ileal morphological parameters.
Feed type significantly (P = .05) improved body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Time of 50% (T50) and 1% (Tl) chromium excretion were significantly (P = .05) decreased with enzyme addition. Non-cumulative excretion data yielded similar results. Enzyme supplementation significantly (P = .05) reduced retention time by 0.25h and increased (P =.05) feed passage rate, villus height and crypt depth in the chickens. Digesta viscosity was also significantly (P = .05) reduced by enzyme addition.
In conclusion, results of the study showed that enzyme supplementation of diets improved digesta passage through the gut, improved ileal morphological characteristics and performance in broilers.
Keywords: Feed passage rate, enzyme supplementation, digesta viscosity, broiler chickens