Enzyme supplementation optimises poultry feed potential

The multiple substrates included in poultry diets result in a mix of anti-nutritional factors and inaccessible nutrients, so it is critical to use a product with multiple enzyme activity. Liquid fermentation enzymes are often mixed to create an enzyme ‘cocktail’ to achieve this, but the use of multiple single enzymes can lead to feed inefficiencies. The enzymes can compete for substrate and inhibit or inactivate each other, compromising their effectiveness in feed.

Using multi-enzyme complexes

Solid-state fermentation, however, produces enzymes in a single complex so they are more able to work in synergy with the animal’s digestive tract, allowing the enzyme solutions to enhance digestibility and nutrient use across a wide range of feed materials (Figure 1). This allows the producer to use less expensive alternative raw materials and less of them because more nutrients are being extracted from the feed. Multi-enzyme complexes such as Alltech’s Allzyme technologies help fibre and protein to become more digestible, meaning producers can take advantage of this when formulating diets by feeding lower-cost feed ingredients, using locally sourced grains and thus saving money on the diet.

Continuing enzyme innovation

Over the past 3 years, Alltech’s research in enzyme technology has been directed towards product development with a focus on greater nutrient release. Allzyme Spectrum is the next-generation multi-enzyme complex that maximises nutrient utilisation by breaking down substrates typically found in a poultry diet, such as non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) and phytic acid.

The enzyme has proven its efficacy in laboratory research, university trials and commercial settings. This extensive work has shown that the new enzyme can save at least 90 calories per kilogramme of feed in poultry diets. This efficiency gain provides flexibility in reformulation through the use of alternative raw materials, helping producers to save money. Broiler and layer research trials conducted at the University of Kentucky, USA, and presented at the International Poultry ­Scientific Forum and Poultry Science Association, have demonstrated the benefits of including the enzyme in nutrient-reduced diets. Allyzme Spectrum enhances nutrient utilisation and supports a healthy digestive system.

Broiler research

The 42-day performance of commercial broiler chicks was evaluated after feeding the following corn-soybean meal-based diets:

1. Positive control (commercial level energy and nutrients)
2. Nutrient reduced (-90 kcal/kg ME, -0.15% available phosphorus (aP), -0.15% calcium (Ca.) vs. diet 1)
3. Diet 2 + 200 grammes per tonne Allzyme Spectrum

The main observations were made in trial 2 (Figure 2). Firstly, the broilers fed the nutrient-reduced diet without enzyme supplementation had the smallest weight gain, feed intake and poorest feed conversion (FCR) ratio. The birds fed the nutrient-reduced diet with Allzyme Spectrum showed the same weight gain, feed intake and FCR as positive control birds provided with commercial-level energy and nutrients.

Layer research

The 44-week production performance of brown layers was evaluated after feeding the following corn-soybean meal-based diets:

1. Positive control (commercial level energy and nutrients)
2. Reduced Ca and aP (vs. diet 1 by 0.15%) + 250 FTU/g ­commercial phytase
3. Reduced Ca and aP (vs. diet 1 by 0.15%) + 200 grammes per tonne Allzyme Spectrum
4. Reduced nutrient (vs. diet 1 by 90 kcal/kg ME, 0.15% Ca, 0.15% and aP) + 200 grammes per tonne Allzyme Spectrum

The main takeaways from the layer research were as follows: When enzymes were provided in layer diets there were no differences in feed intake, hen day production or feed conversion, despite reduced nutrient inputs compared to the positive control (Table 1). On top of which layers fed a commercial diet or diets containing reduced levels of nutrients with enzymes did not produce eggs of a different weight, eggshell breaking strength and eggshell percentage (Table 2).