Effect of supplementing a multi-carbohydrase enzyme complex to corn–soy-based diets on growth performance, intestinal digesta viscosity, and carcass traits of broiler chickens

Poultry feed could represent 70% of the total production costs and with the constant increase in feedstuffs prices, there is a big interest in reducing the cost of feed globally. The use of multi-carbohydrase enzymes (MCE) to increase the nutritional value of ingredients by reducing the harmful effects of non-starch polysaccharides could represent significant cost savings for the poultry industry. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing MCE to corn-soybean meal-based diets. The study consisted of a complete randomized block design of 5 treatments, positive control (PC), negative control (NC; -125 kcal/kg ME compared with the PC), and the NC + MCE at 75 (MCE75), 100 (MCE100), and 125 (MCE125) ppm. The basal diets were supplemented with a 6-phytase at 1,000 FTU/kg. The feeding program consisted of 3 dietary phases (starter 0-14 d; grower 14-28 d; finisher 28-42 d). Cumulatively after 42 d, the NC diet decreased (P=0.003) the BW of the chickens when compared to PC and MCE125. The NC group resulted in increased (P<0.001) FCR compared to all other treatments. When the FCR was adjusted to a common weight (2.94 kg), the MCE-treated groups were not different (P>0.05) from the PC. Breast yield increased linearly (P=0.008) with increasing dietary inclusion levels of MCE. The NC group tended (P=0.059) to increase digesta viscosity compared to PC and MCE125. The supplementation of MCE to energy-reduced broiler diets maintained growth performance and showed positive effects to improve breast yield.