Nutritional and Functional Roles of Phytase and Xylanase Enhancing the Intestinal Health and Growth of Nursery Pigs and Broiler Chickens

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Feed enzymes have been widely used with the goal to improve nutrient digestibility and growth performance of pigs. However, recent studies have shown that feed enzymes, especially phytase and xylanase, may provide potential benefits associated with the intestinal health and microbiota of nursery pigs and broiler chickens. Phytase and xylanase are catalyzers for the hydrolysis of phytic acid and β-1,4- xylan bonds, respectively. With a reduction in the antinutritional properties of phytic acid and non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) by the supplementation of these enzymes, there may be a possibility to improve the intestinal health of nursery pigs and broiler chickens. Intestinal health can be a determinant for the overall health and subsequent performance of the animals. Some of the factors affecting the intestinal health of nursery pigs could be related to antinutritional properties from phytic acid and NSP. Thus, this review paper aimed to discuss the nutritional and functional roles associated phytase and xylanase supplementation enhancing the intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs and broiler chickens. ABSTRACT: This review paper discussed the nutritional and functional roles of phytase and xylanase enhancing the intestinal and growth of nursery pigs and broiler chickens. There are different feed enzymes that are currently supplemented to feeds for nursery pigs and broiler chickens. Phytase and xylanase have been extensively studied showing consistent results especially related to enhancement of nutrient digestibility and growth performance of nursery pigs and broiler chickens. Findings from recent studies raise the hypothesis that phytase and xylanase could play functional roles beyond increasing nutrient digestibility, but also enhancing the intestinal health and positively modulating the intestinal microbiota of nursery pigs and broiler chickens. In conclusion, the supplementation of phytase and xylanase for nursery pigs and broiler chickens reaffirmed the benefits related to enhancement of nutrient digestibility and growth performance, whilst also playing functional roles benefiting the intestinal microbiota and reducing the intestinal oxidative damages. As a result, it could contribute to a reduction in the feed costs by allowing the use of a wider range of feedstuffs without compromising the optimal performance of the animals, as well as the environmental concerns associated with a poor hydrolysis of antinutritional factors present in the diets for swine and poultry.