Energy and nutrient utilisation of maize-soy diet supplemented with a xylanase-β-glucanase complex from Talaromyces versatilis

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing maize-soy diets with a commercial xylanase-β-glucanase complex [β-xylanase, 1,3(4)-β-glucanase, and 1,4-β-glucanase] on growth performance, energy and amino acid utilisation of broiler chickens. A total of 2016 Cobb × Cobb 500 1-d-old male chicks were distributed into 9 treatments with 8 replicates of 28 birds each in a completely randomised design. Treatments consisted of a Control diet formulated with AME and nutrients as commercially used by the Brazilian integrators without enzyme supplementation as well as 8 other diets having reductions in formulated AME (−0.33 and −0.50 MJ/kg) and digestible amino acids (dig. AA; −3 and −6%). These diets were supplemented or not with 50 mg/kg of the enzyme complex. Ileal contents were collected at 21 and 42 d to determine ileal digestible energy (IDE), dry matter and AA digestibilities. Broilers fed diets with AME and dig. AA reductions without enzyme had higher FCR and these diets had lower IDE (P < 0.05). The supplemental enzyme increased total AA digestibility at 21 d; however, no effects were observed at 42 d. The highest total AA digestibility (P < 0.05) was observed when broilers were fed the Control diet whereas the supplemental enzyme compensated the nutrient and energy reductions. The addition of 50 mg/kg of the xylanase-β-glucanase complex in maize-soy diets led to improvements on FCR, IDE and ileal digestibility of dry matter in broilers at 21 and 42 d. The highest energy improvement provided by the supplemental enzyme was observed at 21 d on broilers fed diets with −0.50 MJ/kg AME and −6% dig. AA, being 5.8% higher when compared to those fed the analogous diet without enzyme.