Efecto de la inclusión de enzimas en raciones a base de cebada (hordeum vulgare) para pollos de aptitud carnica: Effects of enzyme supplementation to barley (hordeum vulgare) based diets for broiler chickens

One experiment was conducted to study the effects of the addition of enzyme preparations (150 and 300 ppm) to diets containing barley for chicks. 13-glucan content of the barleywas 3.97%. The treatments were: T- I (control-soybean); T-2 (control barley-soybean); T-3 (T-2 plus 150 ppm of enzyme); T-4 (T-2 plus 300 ppm of enzyme). Addition of enzymes significantly improved body weight and feed conversion at 28 and 49 days of age. The consumption of water (21 and 49 days) was increased in the birds fed T-2 diet, the administration of enzymes reduced significantly this adverse effect. Relative intestinal length (duodenum, jejunun, ileum and cecum) were significantly reduced in the birds fed T- 1, T-3 and T-4 diets respect to those fed T-2 diet. Abdominal fat was not modified by the addition of enzymes but it was significantly reduced respect to the birds fed T-I diet. Regarding carcass yield, carcass pH (5 and 24h) and pigmentation, not clear differences could be found between broilers receiving feed with or without enzyme preparation. In conclusion, the addition of enzyme with a high 0-glucanase activity, improved the performance of the birds fed barley without alter the carcass yield and clearly justify their use in barley based diets for chickens.