Enzyme Supplementation of a Barley and Sunflower-Based Diet on Laying Hen Performance

A laying hen trial was performed to determine the effect of increasing levels of an enzyme preparation (Grindazym GP 5000) on productive parameters, egg quality, water consumption, and excreta quality of a barley and sunflower meal containing diet for laying hens. Six hundred and forth white Shaver 2000 caged laying hens received a 60% barley-20 sunflower meal diet with either 0, 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0 g enzyme/kg feed from 26 to 41 wk (four months in total). The commercial enzyme preparation contained 5,000 units/kg of β-glucanase, 12,000 units/g of xylanase, and 10 units/g of pectinase. During the first four weeks, the highest dose of enzyme (1 g/kg feed) increased egg weight by more than 1 g, improved the percentage of eggs heavier than 60 g, and enzyme supplementation reduced the percentage of dirty eggs. Enzyme addition reduced water intake and the feed:water ratio. High doses of enzyme improved excreta quality. There were no significant differences in rate of lay, daily feed intake, and body weight gain due to enzyme addition.