Commercial enzymes and their influence on broilers fed wheat or barley

Two trials attempted to determine the performance of growing broilers fed commercial enzymes added to wheat- and barley-based diets. In the first trial, broilers were fed wheat-based diets and a superior growth rate resulted for ll four commercial enzyme treatments (P < .05) to 35 days. The early improvement in body weight did not continue to 42 days, and overall gain (0 to 42 days) was not different among treatments. Feed utilization wads unaffected by enzyme supplementation. A second barley-based trial, with diets formulated to contain beta-glucanase enzymes, resulted in improved bird performance for all enzymes tested to 42 days (P <.01). Feed utilization was most efficient wit Ronozyme B over the experimental period (0 to 42 days). Intestinal viscosity measured in 6-wk-old birds decreased significantly in all birds fed enzymes (P >.01). In a third experiment, data from mash-fed 2-wk-old birds showed a numerical but nonsignificant lowering of intestinal viscosity. The AME(n) of wheat-based diets was not affected by enzyme supplementation.