World's Poultry Science Journal

Table of Contents - September 2012 - Volume 68, Issue 03  

Reviews

Exogenous carbohydrase in corn-soy diets for broilers

U. AFTABa1 c1

a1 CAP Nutrition, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Published literature on the effect of carbohydrase enzymes (CE) on energy availability, nutrient digestibilities and growth performance of broilers fed corn-soybean meal-based diets is reviewed. Data from experiments involving CE preparations displaying single- to multiple-activities has shown improved metabolisable energy by 3% and digestibility of protein by 5%. Despite the observed variation in absolute values for individual amino acids, the improvement in amino acid digestibility appeared to be 27% of the undigested fraction. The positive effect on nutritive value are consistent with the improvements in body weight gain (0.8 to 10.4%; mean = 4.3%) and feed efficiency (1.3 to 9.3%; mean = 3.7%). Possible mechanisms contributing to these effects and the factors thought to explain the variability in responses has been discussed.

(Received November 04 2011)

(Accepted December 21 2011)

Key Words:

  • enzyme;
  • carbohydrase;
  • corn-soybean meal;
  • broilers

Correspondence:

c1 Corresponding author: usamaaftab@yahoo.com