Growth performance and digestive processes in broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with xylanase and fructooligosaccharides

Objective: The effect of xylanase and fructooligosaccharides on broiler chickens body weight, feed conversion (kg feed/kg weight), caecal volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration and glycolytic enzymes activity was investigated. Methods: Six hundred birds were divided into three groups and for 35 days were fed basal diet (control) and diets contained 0.1% xylanase and 2% fructooligosaccharides and a combination of both supplements. Body weight was recorded individually and feed conversion per group. The concentration of VFA in caecal digesta was measured by gas chromatography. The glycolytic activity in caecal digesta was measured by the rate of por o-nitrophenol release from their por o-nitrophenylglucosides. The results were analyzed using the one-way ANOVA test. Differences were considered significant at P≤0.05. Results: Addition of xylanase to the basal diet improved body weight 5% and feed conversion decreased 8%, compared to control. Body weight was increased 6% and feed conversion decreased 6% versus control in addition of xylanase and fructooligosaccharides. It was found xylanase addition to diet increased VFA, except valeric acid concentration. Supplementation of xylanase and fructooligosaccharides to diet increased acetic, propionic and isobutyric acid concentration. The glycolytic activity of the caecal digesta was generally alike in all groups.