Enzymes improve profitability of laying hens fed wheat or barley diets

Several factors influence the profitability of a layer farm. Feed quality is a major factor and the quality of many feedstuffs can be improved by eflzyme supplementation. Improved profitability by using feed enzymes in broiler production is well documented. The success of supplementation of broiler diets created an interest in the use of enzymes for increasing egg production (Creswell et al., 1996). Recent research in feed enzyme technology has identified substrate specific and bird specific (broiler/layer) enzymes for increasing the performance of meat and egg birds. The economic advantages of using these enzymes in layer feeds is not well documented, however. The present study was undertaken to determine the economic feasibility of enzyme supplementation of wheat or barley based diet