Effects of xylanase enzyme supplemented palm kernel cake (PKC) diet on performance and nutrient retention of broiler chickens

The development of antibiotics-resistance pathogens in poultry, which poses threat to human health, has necessitated the search for alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) to improve gut microflora in poultry diets. One of the alternatives to AGPs is probiotics, which are beneficial organisms. Prebiotics, are by-products of digestion of polysaccharides which poultry do not have enzymes to digest are food for probiotics. Advent of enzymes makes this digestion possible. This study was conducted to assess the effects of xylanase enzyme supplemented of palm kernel cake (PKC) on performance of broiler chickens. One thousand, nine hundred and twenty day old broiler chicks of Arbor Acre strain were used in a completely randomized design with 4 x 2 factorial combinations. Birds were fed control diet (50%) maize in which PKC was added at 10, 20 or 30% replacing maize in the control diet. Each of the diets was administered with or without 100ppm xylanase enzyme for a period of five (5) weeks. The replacement of maize with Palm Kernel Cake irrespective of levels supplemented with 100ppm xylanase enzyme caused a reduction in feed intake and an increase in weight gain and better FCR. In all these parameters, it is observed that birds fed diet with 10% PKC supplemented with xylanase enzyme out-performed birds fed diets with 10 or 30% PKC supplemented with xylanase enzyme and closer to the birds fed the control diet which was with better FCR. It can be deduced that enzyme supplementation of PKC helped in increasing and improving protein, ether extract and fibre digestibility. The haematological and serum biochemistry were within normal range for broiler chickens. The replacement of maize with PKC irrespective of the levels with supplementation of xylanase posed no threat on the health of the birds. The result of the cost benefit analysis also showed that 10% inclusion level of PKC supplemented with xylanase enzyme gave the best result of a beneficiary reduction in the cost of production with the best improved broiler performance. Enzyme supplementation of high fibre feedstuffs (HFF) could improve growth performance, nutrient retention and fibre digestibility.Key words: prebiotics, enzymes, intestinal microflora, broiler nutrition, digestibilit