Supplementation of dietary enzymes has varying effects on apparent protein and amino acid digestibility in reproducing sows

The effects of two enzyme (Enz) products on ileal and total tract digestibility (11) and TTD) were evaluated in sows (n = 8) fed corn-soybean meal diets. Treatments were: 1) control diet; 2) control + Enz 1 (protease and cellulase activity); and 3) control + Enz 2 (xylanase activity). Heal and fecal samples were collected at week 6-7 and 12-13 of gestation and week 2-3 of lactation. There were no improvements in digestibility during gestation. The ID% of dry matter (DM: 77.3, 79.3, 81.7) and N (81.2, 82.5, 84.3) as w, TTD% of DM (89.8, 90.7, 90.8) and N (89.0, 90.0, 90.6) during lactation were affected to varying degrees by the enzymes. The TTD of DM (P = 0.05) and N (P = 0.10) were positively affected by Enz 1. The fD of DM (P = 0.01) and N (P = 0.02) as well as TTD of DM (P = 0.05) and N (P = 0.02) were improved by Enz 2. The improvement in ID of N was not associated with any particular amino acids (AA) but represented small increases in ID of 8 of 10 essential AA with Enz 1 (P = 0.04) and 10 of 10 for Enz 2 (P = 0.01). The product containing xylanase activity, in particular, appears to have potential to increase digestibility of nutrients during lactation in sows. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.