α-galactosidase enzyme supplementation to corn and soybean meal broiler diets

Over the last few years in the southeastern U.S. some broiler diets have been supplemented the southeastern U.S. with phytase to improve phosphorus digestibility. Enzmes other than phytase, however, have not been added to broiler diets, in the southeastern U.S. with any consistent results because nutrient availability, of corn and soybean meal based broiler diets is high. Moreover, most commercially, available enzyme preparations are designed to allow nutritionists to include relatively high-protein grains [i.e., wheat (approximate to11.0%) and barley (approximate to11.0%) versus-corn (approximate to8.0%)] in broiler diets. Thus, nutritionists have little experience using enzymes in broiler diets based on corn or sorghum and soybean meal. Two broiler floor-pen experiments were conducted to evaluate postpellet enzyme (KEMZYME C/S for broilers) application to corn and soybean meal diets at different environmental (warm versus thermoneutral). Growth responses, immunity, and carcass attributes temperature p mm of broilers were measured. The primary active enzyme in the, product tested was alpha-galactosidase, which may improve energy digestibility of soybean meal. Broilers fed diets supplemented with enzyme preparations primarily containing alpha-galactosidase had improved feed conversion at both environmental temperatures.