Wheat‐ and barley‐based diets with or without additives influence broiler chicken performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal microflora

Abstract

Enzyme supplementation to a wheat- and barley-based diet significantly improved the apparent digestibility of dietary fat. All four additives had a beneficial effect on the intestinal microflora of broilers.

Productive performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphometry in broiler chickens fed corn or wheat-based diets supplemented with bacterial- or fungal-originated xylanase

“…It is speculated that diets effect in birds could in some extent be exerted through their influence on gut microflora responses. Rodriguez et al (2012) reported that digesta count of Escherichia coli and Lactobacilli in the birds fed with wheat-based diets was greater than those received corn-based diets. These bacteria mainly produce acetic and butyric acid, respectively (Guilloteau et al 2010).…”

Intestinal microbiome of poultry and its interaction with host and diet

“…Dietary enzymes, such as xylanase and β-glucanase, increase intestinal lactic acid bacteria and decrease the population of adverse and pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli. 80 Dietary supplementation with xylanase and β-glucanase can also offer chickens some protection against necrotic enteritis as the enzymes break down the non-starch polysaccharides in the diet and reduce the digesta viscosity. [81][82][83] Dietary inclusion of some plant-derived essential oils has also been used to protect chickens from enteric disease.…”

Influence of non-starch polysaccharide-degrading enzymes on growth performance, blood parameters, and carcass quality of broilers fed corn or wheat/barley-based diets

“…The mechanisms involved in poor digestibility are not fully understood but it is recognized that viscosity reduces the intestinal passage rate (van der Klis et al, 1993), reduces the diffusion of digestive enzymes and stimulates bacterial proliferation in the small intestine (Choct, 2006;Rodriguez et al, 2012). Moreover, the water-holding capacity brought about by soluble NSP markedly influenced voluntary feed intake.…”

“…Moreover, the water-holding capacity brought about by soluble NSP markedly influenced voluntary feed intake. The breakdown of these NSPs via enzyme addition contributes to decrease viscosity of the gut contents (Bedford and Classen, 1992), improving feed intake and efficiency of nutrient utilization (Mathlouthi et al, 2002;Choct et al, 2004;Shakouri et al, 2009;Bedford and Partridge, 2010;Rodriguez et al, 2012).…”