Evaluation the effect of using matrix value for three commercial multi-enzyme on growth performance and some characteristics of gastrointestinal tract of broiler chicks fed barley-based diet

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Abstract

The effect of feeding barley-diets supplemented with three commercial enzymes containing xylanase and β-glucanase activities based on matrix value were investigated on performance and gastrointestinal tract size of broiler chicks. A total of 260-day-old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to five treatment groups, with four replicates per treatment group and 13 birds per replicate pen. All data were analyzed in a randomized complete design. In the entire period, adding all enzymes to barley-based diet significantly (P<0.05) increased average daily feed intake (ADFI) in comparison with barley and corn-based diet without enzyme. Generally, from 0 to 42 d of age, body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (P<0.05) improved when diets containing enzymes as compared to barley-based diet without enzyme. At 43 of days of age, relative weight of pancreas and relative length and weight of duodenum, jejunum, ileum and cecum significantly decreased by addition of all enzymes compared to barley and corn-based diet. Relative weight of liver and spleen were not significantly affected by enzyme. However, the relative weight of the abdominal fat were significantly (P<0.05) increased by enzyme addition. In general, it seems that use of enzyme based on matrix value can improve performance of birds that fed barley-based diet. According to the results, feeding enzymes A, C and corn-based diet similarly improved FCR, but by considering final body weight broiler, enzyme A showed the best performance among enzymes used in this experiment. 

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