2006 Poultry Science Association, Inc. The Effect of Levels of α-Galactosidase Enzyme on Performance of Broilers Fed Diets Based on Corn and Soybean Meal1

A study was conducted with male chicks of a commercial broiler strain to evaluate the effects of different dosage levels of a commercial α-galactosidase enzyme. Diets were formulated based on corn and soybean meal to meet the nutrient standards of top poultry companies. The positive control diet was formulated with no adjustment in the ME content of the soybean meal associated with enzyme supplementation. The negative control diet was formulated assuming a 10% improvement in the ME of the soybean meal. The negative control diet was supplemented with 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, or 6.0 g of enzyme per kilogram of soybean meal to provide for 0, 45, 90, 135, or 180 galactosidase units (GALU)/kg of soybean meal. Each of the test diets was fed in mash form to 8 replicate pens of 30 birds. Body weight, feed efficiency, mortality, and calorie conversion were determined at 14, 35, and 42 d of age. Body weight, feed efficiency, and mortality were not significantly (P < 0.05) affected by dietary treatment. Birds fed the negative control with no enzyme supplement were numerically reduced in body weight or feed efficiency as compared with the control diet; however, addition of the enzyme was without benefit. When unadjusted energy values were analyzed, birds fed the negative control diet were more efficient in calorie conversion, but this finding was unrelated to enzyme addition, suggesting that diet composition was responsible for the differences in calorie utilization. When adjusted energy values were compared, birds fed the negative control tended to have higher (less efficient) calorie conversion than those fed the positive control with little or no indication of improvement from the addition of theα-galactosidase enzyme. Results of this study show no benefit from the addition of the enzyme used in this trial