Additive Effect of NSP Enzymes and Phytase on Performance, Egg Quality, Nutrient Retention and Gut Health of Laying Hens Fed Corn-Soybean Meal Based Low Energy Diets*

A trial was conducted to evaluate pure NSP enzyme combination derived from in vitro studies and commercially available phytase to corn-soybean meal based low energy diets singly and combination of both. The experiment was conducted by using completely randomized design on one hundred and fifty layer birds (40 weeks) of uniform body weight and production with five treatments, six replicates and five hens in each replicate for three laying periods with twenty eight days in each laying period. The performance was measured in terms of egg production, feed intake, weight changes, feed efficiency, egg quality, nutrient retention, and gut health. Egg production improved (P<0.05) with supplementation of phytase alone or in combination of phytase and NSP enzymes. No effect of supplementing NSP enzymes, phytase alone or in combination was observed on feed intake, FCR, egg quality traits and retentions of DM, OM and NFE. Significantly (P<0.05) higher retentions of CP, CF, EE, GE and phosphorus was observed with supplementation of NSP enzymes and similar trend was observed with both NSP and phytase to BD except for phosphorus indicating no associative effect of phytase and NSP enzymes on above nutrient retentions. Intestinal pH, viscosity and E. coli count significantly (P<0.05) reduced with supplementation of NSP enzymes and no further improvement was observed on these variables with supplementation of phytase with NSP enzymes. Gut histology revealed broad and disrupted villi with little goblet cell activity. No significant (P<0.05) effect on feed cost due to addition of phytase and/or NSP enzymes to BD was observed. The cost of feed to produce dozen eggs was comparable among SD, BD and BD supplemented with NSP enzymes and phytase.