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The variable nature of crude fibre and the difference in the profile of exogenous enzymes have necessitated the need to investigate the effects of enzyme cocktail on some high fibre feed stuffs. Whether enzyme cocktail will perform better than individual enzyme is still a subject of research. This research was conducted to test the hypothesis that cocktail of enzymes will perform better than individual enzymes on palm kernel cake using in vitro technique. Three different exogenous enzymes namely xylanase, multipurpose and phytase were used individually and as cocktails in a completely randomized design. There were eight treatments comprising of a control (with no enzyme) and seven experimental treatments with either individual enzymes, pairwise combination of enzymes or combination of the three enzymes. Each treatment was replicated thrice. In vitro technique was carried out and values of nutrients' digestibility obtained were analyzed using Statistical Analyses Software. Treatments means were separated using Duncan's multiple range test. This study revealed that multipurpose enzyme was significantly (P<0.05) better than other individual enzymes in their effects on digestibility of dry matter, crude fibre and fibre fractions with the exception of acid detergent lignin where there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between the treatments. Phytase gave the least improvement in the measured parameters among the individual enzymes. Cocktails of enzymes were significantly better (P<0.05) than individual enzymes in their effects on digestibility of dry matter, crude fibre and fibre fractions while cocktail of the three enzymes was significantly (P<0.05) the best among the cocktails. The study concluded that cocktail of exogenous enzymes holds better potential than individual enzymes in improving the utilization of palm kernel cake for poultry species.

The determination of the positive effects of exogenous enzymes is essential to ensure their inclusion in poultry feed formulation. This study was conducted to determine the effect of enzymes on the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) value of brewers? dried grain (BDG). Xylanase, phytase and multipurpose enzymes were used in a completely randomised design to determine the effects of individual exogenous enzymes and their cocktails on poultry metabolisable energy using adult cockerels. There were eight treatments comprising a control and seven experimental treatments with BDG and one, two or three enzymes. The AME values were determined using the intubation method. Data collected were analysed using the statistical analysis system. Enzymes individually and as a cocktail improved the AME value of BDG compared to the control. An increase in the AME value was 3.48%, 5.39%, 5.92%, 14.29%, 18.13%, 23.21% and 29.58% respectively for phytase, xylanase, cocktail of xylanase and phytase, multipurpose enzyme, cocktail of multipurpose enzyme and phytase, cocktail of xylanase and multipurpose enzyme and cocktail of xylanase, phytase and multipurpose enzyme. Cocktails of enzymes were significantly better (P?0.05) than individual enzymes in their effects on apparent metabolisable energy of BDG. Phytase gave a marginal increase in AME of the studied feedstuff. It has been concluded that the cocktail of enzymes is better than individual enzymes in their effects on AME of BDG. If different enzymes are available, it is recommended that the enzyme with higher units should be used.

The need for rapid test in evaluation of feedstuffs in poultry nutrition cannot be overemphasized. Such test must however be able to replace exactly the response in the animal concern. This study was conducted to determine the suitability of In vitro technique in predicting the In vivo response of poultry to enzyme supplemented feedstuffs. Rice husk was used in a Completely Randomized Design with individual and cocktail of enzymes for both In vitro and In vivo trials. Three exogenous enzymes namely a xylanase, a multipurpose and a phytase were used individually, pairwise and altogether with the feedstuff to constitute the treatments namely T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, and T8. Each treatment was replicated thrice for both In vitro and In vivo trials. The In vitro trial was done to simulate the chicken digestive system while the In vivo trial was done using the intubation method. Parameters measured for both trials were digestibility values for dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, crude fiber and fiber fractions. All data collected were statistically analyzed using Analysis of Variance procedure and treatment means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. Correlation analysis was carried out to compare the results of both trials.  Results show that enzymes individually and as cocktails significantly improved the digestibility of parameters for both In vitro and In vivo trials. Cocktails of enzymes were significantly better than the individual enzymes for dry matter and crude fiber digestibility for both In vitro and In vivo trials. Correlation analysis shows positive correlation (r=0.99, r=0.96, r=0.94, r= 0.86, r=0.78) between In vitro and In vivo trials in most of digestibility values for the rice husk. It was concluded that In vitro trial can be used as both criterion and replacement for In vivo trial when determining the efficacy of exogenous enzymes in poultry nutrition.