Growth phase and dietary α-amylase supplementation effects on nutrient digestibility and feedback enzyme secretion in broiler chickens

Abstract

Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal health, and endogenous enzyme secretion responses to dietary α-amylase supplementation during 4 growth phases of broiler chickens fed corn–soybean meal–based diets were evaluated in the present study. A total of 1,136 male broiler chicks were assigned at day 0 after hatching to 8 treatments in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement. There were 2 dietary levels of α-amylase supplementation of 0 or 80 kilo-Novo alpha amylase units per kg diet and 4 posthatching growth phases of day 0 to 11, day 11 to 21, day 21 to 42, or day 42 to 56 in a randomized complete block design. Each treatment comprised 8 replicate pens, with either 25 (day 0–11), 20 (day 11–21), 16 (day 21–42), or 10 (day 42–56) birds per pen. Body weight gain and feed efficiency of birds improved ( P < 0.01) with α-amylase supplementation. There were main effects of α-amylase, growth phase, and interaction ( P < 0.01) on apparent ileal digestibility ( AID ) of starch. This ranged from 0.8% during day 11 to 21 to 2.8% during day 0 to 11 after hatching. The total tract retention of starch increased ( P < 0.05) with amylase supplementation but was not different across growth phases. Amylase supplementation increased ( P < 0.05) AID of gross energy, AME (kcal/kg), and AMEn (kcal/kg). Villus height in the jejunal tissue was increased ( P < 0.01) by α-amylase supplementation. During day 11 to 21 after hatching, the viscosity of jejunal digesta and pancreatic amylase activity increased ( P < 0.01) with amylase supplementation. In conclusion, dietary amylase supplementation improved growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, and digestive enzyme activity of broiler chickens fed a corn–soybean diet. The study indicates that the growth phase of birds may affect response to exogenous amylase.

Influence of Broiler Age on the Apparent Metabolizable Energy of Cereal Grains Determined Using the Substitution Method

“…These findings are similar to those of Lopez and Leeson [ 19 ], who showed that the retention of N in a corn-soybean meal diet declined as broilers grew older, especially after 28 d of age. Aderibigbe et al [ 20 ] similarly reported significant reductions in the retention of DM and N in a corn-soybean meal diet from 1 to 42 d of age of broiler chickens. Yang et al [ 21 ] reported that the advancing age of broilers significantly decreased the N retention of cereal-based diets from 68.8% at 7 d of age to 60.9% at 35 d of age.…”

“…Thomas et al [ 26 ] showed that the AMEn of wheat- and corn-based diets increased between d 7 (11.06 and 12.28 MJ/kg, respectively) and d 14 (13.24 and 13.01 MJ/kg, respectively), with no further change between 14 and 21 d of age. Aderibigbe et al [ 20 ] observed that the AMEn of a corn-soybean meal diet increased from 13.6 to 13.8 MJ/kg between 11 and 21 d of age, then plateaued until 42 d of age.…”

Multi-Enzyme Supplementation Modifies the Gut Microbiome and Metabolome in Breeding Hens

“…In contrast to pullulanase, α-amylases split the α-1,4 glycosidic linkages in amylose to yield maltose and glucose ( Sarian et al, 2017 ). Studies have demonstrated that the addition of α-amylase to a corn-soybean diet can release more feed energy and significantly improve apparent nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activity, and production performance of poultry ( Aderibigbe et al, 2020 ). Glucoamylase (also known as amyloglucosidase or AMG) is an important digestive enzyme that mainly saccharifies partially processed starch/dextrin to glucose, which helps poultry absorb nutrients ( da Costa Luchiari et al, 2021 ).…”

Energy values evaluation and improvement of soybean meal in broiler chickens through supplemental mutienzyme

“…Complex relationship exists in various components in feed such as protein, fat, fiber and carbohydrates. Additionally, there are studies illustrated that difference in the ingredients and chemical composition could significantly influence the apparent metabolizable energy values ( AME ) for broiler chickens ( Aderibigbe et al., 2020 ). Intestinal metabolism for nutrient digestion and absorption had been estimated to account for 20 to 36% of energy use in chickens ( Cant et al., 1996 ).…”