Influence of xylanase and vitamin A in wheat-based diet on performance, nutrients digestibility, small intestinal morphology and digesta viscosity in broiler chickens

The effect of wheat-based diet (WBD), supplemented with xylanase and surplus vitamin A, on performance, nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology and digesta viscosity of broiler chickens was investigated. Based on a completely randomized design, 240-day-old chickens were randomly divided into six experimental diets and four replications with 10 chickens each. Experimental diets consisted of corn-based diet (CBD) (T1), WBD with routine amounts of vitamin A (9000 IU kg-1) (T2), T2 without vitamin A in premix (T3), T2 + 6000 IU kg-1 vitamin A (T4), T2 + 420 IU kg-1 xylanase (T5), and T2 + 6000 IU kg-1 vitamin A + 420 IU kg-1 xylanase (T6). For Feed Conversion Rate (FCR) between day 1 and 21 and between day 21 and 42 WBD supplemented with vitamin A and enzyme was less than CBD (p < 0.05). Also, supplementation of surplus vitamin A singly, and vitamin A and enzyme improved digestibility of crude protein (CPD) and crude fat (CFD) than WBD with routine amounts of vitamin A (p < 0.05). The villus (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) was longer (p < 0.05) in broilers fed on diet supplemented with vitamin A and enzyme than those with CBD. It may be concluded that enzyme and vitamin A supplementation to WBD may improve mentioned parameters.