Effect of mannanase-supplemented PKE-based diets on the growth performance, feed efficiency and dressing percentage of broilers

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of mannanase supplementation and various levels of palm kernel expeller (PKE)-based diets on the growth performance, feed intake and feed efficiency of Cobb broilers. The birds were fed 0, 8, 16 and 24% PKE-based diets with or without mannanase supplementation. The study involved a total of 160 one-day-old male Cobb chicks randomly assigned to eight treatments with four replicates each and five birds per replicate. There were no significant differences (p >0.05) in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and dressing weight percentage when comparing birds fed with PKE supplemented with or without enzyme with birds fed with corn-soybean diet (control). This study showed that PKE inclusion levels up to 24% did not result in any adverse effect on broiler production. Supplementation of PKE-based diets with mannanase had no beneficial effect on growth performance and feed efficiency