Performance of broiler chicken fed multicarbohydrases supplemented low energy diet

AIM: Objective of this study was to investigate the effect of multicarbohydrases supplementation on performance of broilers fed low energy diet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 75 days old chicks were selected and randomly divided into three treatments groups (T(1), T(2), and T(3)); each group contained 25 chicks distributed in five replicates of five chicks each. T(1) group (positive control) was offered control ration formulated as per Bureau of Indian Standards recommendations. In T(2) group (negative control) ration, metabolizable energy (ME) was reduced by 100 kcal/kg diet. T(3) group ration was same as that of T(2) except that it was supplemented with multicarbohydrases (xylanase at 50 g/ton+mannanase at 50 g/ton+amylase at 40 g/ton). Feed intake and body weight of all experimental birds were recorded weekly. Metabolic trial was conducted for 3 days at the end of experiment to know the retention of nutrients. RESULTS: Significant improvement (p<0.01) was observed in total weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, and performance index in broilers under supplementary group T(3) as compared to T(1) and T(2) groups. Retention of crude protein and ether extract was significantly increased (p<0.05) in T(3) group supplemented with multicarbohydrases as compared to other groups. Retention of dry matter, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract was comparable in all the three groups. Significantly highest dressed weight, eviscerated weight, and drawn weight (% of live body weight) were observed in multicarbohydrases supplemented T(3) group, however it was comparable in T(1) and T(2) groups. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the supplementation of multicarbohydrases (xylanase at 50 g/ton+mannanase at 50 g/ton+amylase at 40 g/ton) in low energy diet improved overall performance of broilers.