Effects of increasing dried distillers’ grains with solubles and non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme inclusion on growth performance and energy digestibility in broilers

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme on broiler performance and ileal nutrient digestibility in diets containing dried distillers’ grains with solubles, as well as evaluate non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme inclusion in low energy diets with dried distillers’ grains with solubles on performance and carcass yield. Experiment 1 was a 4 (dried distillers’ grains with solubles level of 0, 5, 10, and 15%) x 2 (with and without enzyme) factorial design in battery-reared broilers for 21 d; body weights and feed intake were determined weekly. On day 22, ileal contents were collected to determine digestibility of energy and nitrogen. The second experiment was a 48 d floor pen trial utilizing three dietary treatments: positive control, negative control (positive control, negative control less 132 kcal/kg ME), and a negative control + non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme inclusion. Diets included dried distillers’ grains with solubles at 2.5 to 10%. In Experiment 1, BW decreased (P < 0.05) with 15% dried distillers’ grains with solubles inclusion as compared to the control. The FCR was also increased (P < 0.05) with 15% dried distillers’ grains with solubles inclusion as compared to all other diets through 14 d. Inclusion of dried distillers’ grains with solubles reduced (P < 0.05) ileal digestible energy at 10 and 15% inclusion and inclusion of non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme increased (P < 0.05) ileal digestible energy. Increased energy and nitrogen digestibility coefficients (P < 0.05) were observed at all dried distillers’ grains with solubles inclusion levels with non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme inclusion except for the 10% inclusion rate. In Experiment 2, non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme in the negative control diet increased BW compared to the negative control at all observed time points at each phase (P < 0.05). Additionally, non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme in the negative control diet reduced mortality corrected FCR through the grower phase. Non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme inclusion in the negative control diet resulted in comparable live weights, carcass weights, breast filets, and tenders to the positive control diet; however, fat pad was reduced compared to the positive control (P < 0.05). These data confirm that elevated levels of dried distillers’ grains with solubles in starter diets can negatively impact digestibility and performance of broilers and the inclusion of an non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzyme can increase nutrient digestibility and improve broiler performance in low energy dried distillers’ grains with solubles containing diets.     

The effect of vitamin E on growth performance and meat quality in broilers given diets containing distillers’ dried grain with solubles (DDGS)

1. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin E (VE, α-tocopherol acetate) on growth performance and meat quality of broilers fed on diets containing maize distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

2. A total of 360 one-d-old broilers were randomly assigned to 6 groups. Each group comprised 6 replicates of 10 broilers. Broilers were allocated to 1 of 6 diets and fed for 49?d in a 3?×?2 factorial design. The dietary treatments included three concentrations of DDGS (0, 10 or 20%) and two concentrations of VE (0 or 200?mg/kg).

3. Diets containing 20% DDGS decreased the growth phase and average daily feed intake, demonstrating that small amounts of DDGS affected feed intake in broilers and that an excess of DDGS was not conducive to feed intake.

4. Different dietary concentrations of DDGS did not significantly improve colour, drip loss, cooking loss, or shear force. Supplementation with 200?mg/kg VE significantly reduced cooking loss and shear force and improved colour.

5. In conclusion, supplementation with DDGS at 10% and/or α-tocopherol acetate at 200?mg/kg had positive effects on growth performance and meat quality in broilers.     

Effect of increasing supplemental phytase concentration in diets fed to Hubbard × Cobb 500 male broilers from 1 to 42 days of age

Phytase supplementation beyond the standard doses used for phosphorus release has been reported to result in extraphosphoric effects by enhancing nutrient digestibility resulting in improved performance of broilers. A study was conducted to examine the effects of the progressive addition of an enhancedEscherichia Coli phytase (400–1,600 phytase units; FTU) on growth performance and carcass characteristics from 1 to 42 d of age in male broilers. One thousand four hundred Hubbard × Cobb 500 1-d-old chicks were randomly distributed into 56 floor pens (0.08 m²/bird). Seven dietary treatments were provided in a 3-phase feeding program consisting of (1) a positive control (adequate Ca and nonphytate P; PC); (2) 1 negative control (Ca and nonphytate P reduced by 0.14% and 0.13%; NC); (3 to 6) the NC diet with 4 increasing supplemental phytase concentrations (NC + 400 FTU, NC + 800 FTU, NC + 1,200 FTU, and NC + 1,600 FTU, respectively); and (7) a low-energy NC diet without phytase and xylanase (reduced 66 kcal of AME_n/kg). Body weight gain, feed conversion, mortality, weight and yield of whole carcass, abdominal fat, and pectoralis major and minor muscles were evaluated. Progressive supplementation of phytase decreased cumulative FCR linearly. Broilers fed diets containing 1,600 FTU had heavier total breast meat by 49 g compared with birds receiving the PC diets. Broilers consuming the NC + 400 FTU or the low-energy NC diet had similar growth performance and meat yield compared with birds provided PC diet. These data indicated that phytase supplementation beyond the need for phosphorus enhances growth performance and carcass characteristics.     

Performance,breast meat yield and abdominal fat deposition of male broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with DL‐xnethionine or DL‐xnethionine hydroxy analogue free acid

1. An experiment was conducted to compare the relative bioefficacy of DL‐methionine hydroxy analogue free acid (DL‐MHA‐FA) with DL‐methionine in broiler chickens. Responses used for comparison were weight gain and food efficiency between 7 and 35 d of age, and breast meat deposition, food cost per kg of breast meat, and abdominal fat at 41 d of age.

2. A total of 2160 seven‐day‐old male broiler chicks were used. The feeding programme consisted of a starter diet from 7 to 21 d, and a finisher diet till the end of the experiment. The starter basal diet contained 6.1 g/kg total sulphur‐containing amino acids (TSAA), and an estimated metabolisable energy (ME) content of 13.2 MJ/kg. The finisher diet contained 5.8 g/kg TSAA and an estimated ME content of 13.6 MJ/kg. Four concentrations of DL‐methionine and DL‐MHA‐FA were added at 0.5g/kg increments on an equimolar basis. Therefore, there were 9 experimental treatments which were each applied to 6 replicates of 40 chicks. Weight gain and food efficiency were determined at 35 d of age. Breast yield and carcase fat were measured at 41 d.

3. Significant responses to graded amounts of both methionine sources were observed in weight gain, food efficiency, breast meat percentage, and food cost per kg of breast meat. The responses fitted exponential regression curves. Based on the regression coefficients, equimolar bioefficacy of DL‐MHA‐FA relative to DL‐methionine was 80% for daily gain, 83% for food efficiency, 51% for breast meat yield, and 66% for food cost per kg of breast meat. Differences between the 2 sources were significant (P< 0.05) for breast meat yield and food cost per kg of meat and (P< 0.10) for food efficiency.