Influence of Exogenous Enzyme (Rovabiotm) on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Bone Health and Profit Margins in Broilers Fed Dietary High Levels of Maize Bran.

Abstract

Maize bran (MB) is a potential feed ingredient that can be used to reduce the quantity of maize added to Ghanaian poultry diets. However, MB contains a high level of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs) such as phytic acid and non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) that negatively affect the utilization of nutrients and allow nutrients to escape enzymatic digestion in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Exogenous enzymes have been used over the years to degrade and improve the digestion of nutrients in feedstuffs containing these ANFs. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the hypothesis that exogenous enzyme (RovabioTM) in the presence of high levels of MB could improve the general performance of broilers and increase the profit margins. Three hundred and thirty-six (336) Cobb-500 broiler chicks were allotted to four dietary treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. The factors were, Enzyme (No vrs yes) and Maize bran MB (No vrs yes) in the starter (d 0 to d 28), grower (d 28 to 42), and finisher diets (d 42 to 56). Weekly intake, body weight (BW), gain, feed conversion ratio, and livability were calculated. The data collected at d 28 and d 56 were nutrient digestibility (crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and ash), gut pH, carcass traits and bone health (femur and tibial BS), and An Enzyme x MB interaction was detected for FCR (P < 0.05) on d 14 indicating that only in birds fed MB did the enzyme improve feed efficiency. On d 28, No MB as a main effect increased both BW (P < 0.05) and BW gain (P < 0.05) compared to Yes MB diet. The inclusion of enzyme diet increased the gizzard pH of the birds (P < 0.05) at d 28. Maize bran increased gizzard weight and reduced breast weight, % bodyweight (P < 0.05). There was no consistency in the effect of enzyme or maize bran on bone traits. However, the general outcome suggests that the inclusion of enzymes increased feed cost but also increased profitability. In conclusion, the inclusion of the enzyme in the MB-based diet improves broiler performance.