Enzyme Supplementation to Enhance Wheat Utilization in Starter Diets for Broilers and Turkeys

Abstract

Two trials, one using chicks and the other poults, were conducted to determine the efficacy of an enzyme designed to enhance the utilization of wheat non-starch polysaccharides in two sources of wheat. There were five treatment rations: corn-soybean meal (CSBM) and four other diets containing 40% wheat from two locations (North Carolina, NC, and western Canada, CN) supplemented with and without enzyme. Intestinal viscosity was decreased for both chicks and poults with enzyme supplementation of both wheat sources. Body weight gain was improved for both chicks and poults fed NC wheat. Birds fed NC wheat did not grow as well as birds fed CN wheat or corn-based diets. It was concluded that 1) supplementation of wheat sources for both chicks and poults lowered intestinal viscosity; 2) enzyme supplementation of NC wheat diets improved performance of chicks and poults; and 3) source of wheat affected chick and poult performance.