cellulase and Weight-Gain

The aim of the present study was to describe age-related changes in anatomic, functional and microbial variables during the rumen development process, as affected by the feeding system (supplemental feeding v. grazing), in goats. Goats were slaughtered at seven time points that were selected to reflect the non-rumination (0, 7 and 14 d), transition (28 and 42 d) and rumination (56 and 70 d) phases of rumen development. Total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration (P= 0·002), liquid-associated bacterial and archaeal copy numbers (P< 0·01) were greater for supplemental feeding v. grazing, while rumen pH (P< 0·001), acetate molar proportion (P= 0·003) and solid-associated microbial copy numbers (P< 0·05) were less. Rumen papillae length (P= 0·097) and extracellular (P= 0·093) and total (P= 0·073) protease activity potentials in supplemented goats tended to be greater than those in grazing goats. Furthermore, from 0 to 70 d, irrespective of the feeding system, rumen weight, rumen wall thickness, rumen papillae length and area, TVFA concentration, xylanase, carboxymethylcellulase activity potentials, and microbial copy numbers increased (P< 0·01) with age, while the greatest amylase and protease activity potentials occurred at 28 d. Most anatomic and functional variables evolved progressively from 14 to 42 d, while microbial colonisation was fastest from birth to 28 d. These outcomes suggest that the supplemental feeding system is more effective in promoting rumen development than the grazing system; in addition, for both the feeding systems, microbial colonisation in the rumen is achieved at 1 month, functional achievement at 2 months, and anatomic development after 2 months.

Topics: Amylases; Animal Feed; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Cellulase; China; Diet; Feeding Methods; Female; Fermentation; Gastric Mucosa; Gastrointestinal Contents; Goats; Herbivory; Male; Milk; Peptide Hydrolases; Rumen; Weaning; Weight Gain; Xylosidases

1. Exogenous microbial beta-1,3-1,4-glucanases and hemicellulases contribute to improving the nutritive value of cereals rich in soluble non-starch polysaccharides for poultry. 2. In general, plant cell wall hydrolases display a modular structure comprising a catalytic module linked to one or more non-catalytic carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). Based on primary structure similarity, CBMs have been classified in 50 different families. CBMs anchor cellulases and hemicellulases into their target substrates, therefore eliciting efficient hydrolysis of recalcitrant polysaccharides. 3. A study was undertaken to investigate the effects of a family 11 beta-glucan-binding domain in the function of recombinant derivatives of cellulase CtLic26A-Cel5E of Clostridium thermocellum that were used to supplement a barley-based diet at lower dosage rates. 4. The results showed that birds fed on diets supplemented with the recombinant CtLic26A-Cel5E modular derivative containing the family 11 CBM or the commercial enzyme mixture Rovabio Excel AP tended to display improved performance when compared to birds fed diets not supplemented with exogenous enzymes. 5. It is suggested that at lower than previously reported enzyme dosage (10 U/kg vs 30 U/kg of basal diet), the beta-glucan-binding domain also elicits the function of the recombinant CtLic26A-Cel5E derivatives. 6. Finally, the data suggest that exogenous enzymes added to barley-based diets act primarily in the proximal section of the gastrointestinal tract.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Cellulase; Chickens; Diet; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hordeum; Multienzyme Complexes; Receptors, Cell Surface; Recombinant Proteins; Weight Gain

1. The effects of a mixture of pure enzymes (cellulase, hemicellulase and pectinase) and a commercial enzyme, Energex, were examined on performance and metabolisabilities in broiler chicks given a maize-soybean meal diet. Composition of the mixed enzyme was similar to Energex except that protease was not present. 2. Chicks were divided into three groups: control, mixed enzyme and Energex with 7 replicates per group. Male broiler chicks were raised at 25 degrees C in wire-floored cages for 12 d from 15 d of age. Feed and water were offered ad libitum. 3. The Energex group gained significantly more weight and the mixed enzyme group tended to gain more than the control. Feed intakes were similar and thus the feed conversion ratio of Energex was significantly improved while it tended to be improved by the mixed enzyme. 4. The mixed enzyme group showed significant improvement in carcase and muscle weight when compared with the control group. The mixed enzyme group also showed significant improvement in organic matter and crude protein metabolisabilities. In the groups given enzyme, abdominal fat weight tended to decrease. 5. It is concluded that a combination of cellulase, hemicellulase and pectinase is effective in improving organic matter and crude protein metabolisabilities and carcase yield of broilers on a maize-soybean meal diet.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cellulase; Chickens; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Feces; Feeding Behavior; Glycoside Hydrolases; Male; Muscles; Organ Size; Polygalacturonase; Viscosity; Weight Gain

The study evaluated the effects of branched-chain volatile fatty acids (BCVFA) and fibrolytic enzyme (FE) on rumen development in calves. Forty Holstein male calves at the same ages (15 ± 2.5 days of age) and weights (45 ± 3.3 kg of body weight [BW]) were assigned randomly to four groups with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Supplemental BCVFA (0 g/d or 18 g/d) and FE (0 g/d or 1.83 g/d) were fed to calves. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement random design by the mixed procedure of SAS. The BCVFA × FE interaction was observed for ruminal propionate, blood growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and GH receptor (GHR) and IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) expression in the rumen mucosa. Dry matter intake was higher for BCVFA addition. The higher average daily gain and ruminal volatile fatty acids were observed for BCVFA or FE addition. Stomach weight and the length and width of rumen papillae were higher for BCVFA addition. The higher expression of GHR, IGF-1R and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 1 in rumen mucosa, and blood GH and IGF-1 were observed with BCVFA or FE addition. Blood β-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate were higher for BCVFA addition. The results indicated that rumen development was promoted by BCVFA, but was not affected with FE addition in calves.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cattle; Cellulase; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Random Allocation; Rumen; Weight Gain

To investigate effects of Aspergillus oryzae culture (AOC) and 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMB) on milk performance and rumen fermentation of dairy cows. Sixty-four multiparous Chinese Holstein cows were randomly allocated into four experimental diets: (i) Control diet; (ii) AOC diet: 5 g AOC/day per head; (iii) HMB diet: 25 g HMB/day; and (iv) AH diet: 5 g AOC plus 25 g HMB/day. Added HMB tended to increase the yield of milk protein (P = 0.06) and 3.5% fat-corrected milk (P = 0.08) and milk fat content (P = 0.09). Milk fat yield (P = 0.03) and the contents of milk protein (P = 0.05) were increased by adding HMB. The cows fed on AOC diet had a tendency for higher body weight (BW) gain (P = 0.08). Addition of AOC, HMB and AH increased content of microbial protein (MCP) and total volatile fatty acids (VFA) (P < 0.01) in rumen fluid. Populations of rumen fungi, Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens relative to total bacterial 16S rDNA (P ≤ 0.03) and activity of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) (P < 0.01) were increased with added AOC or HMB. It is inferred that added AOC or HMB can increase the contents of MCP and total VFA potentially by stimulating rumen microbe populations and CMCase activity.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Aspergillus oryzae; Bacterial Proteins; Butyric Acid; Cattle; Cellulase; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Fats; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Female; Fermentation; Lactation; Milk; Milk Proteins; Rumen; Weight Gain

A total of 15 primiparous sows (Landrace × Yorkshire) and their litters were used in the current study to evaluate the efficacy of cellulase supplementation on the production performance of sows and piglets. Pigs were randomly allocated into one of three treatments with five replicates per treatment. The dietary treatments were as follows: (i) CON (corn-soybean meal-based control); (ii) EZ1 (CON + 0.05% cellulase); and (iii) EZ2 (CON + 0.10% cellulase). The supplementation of cellulase had no effect (P > 0.05) on body weight and feed intake of lactating sows. At weaning, back fat thickness loss decreased (P = 0.04) linearly in EZ1 and EZ2 treatments. The average daily gain (ADG) of piglets increased (linear P = 0.06, quadratic P = 0.04)) during days 14 to 21 as well as at days 21 to 25 (linear P = 0.03 and quadratic P = 0.01) with the increase in the level of supplemented enzyme. Dry matter and nitrogen digestibility increased (linear P = 0.01) in lactating sows fed EZ1 and EZ2 diet compared with CON. In conclusion, it is suggested that cellulase supplementation to corn-soybean meal based diet exerts beneficial effects to sows in reducing their back fat thickness loss at weaning and also helps to improve nutrient digestibility. It also helped to improve the ADG of piglets.

Topics: Adipose Tissue; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Cellulase; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Digestion; Eating; Female; Glycine max; Lactation; Male; Nitrogen; Swine; Weaning; Weight Gain; Zea mays

1. The supplementation of diets rich in soluble polysaccharides with microbial cellulases and hemicellulases decreases digesta viscosity and promotes broiler performance. 2. In contrast, recent experiments suggest that polysaccharidases are ineffective for improving the nutritive value of pasture biomass used by free-range broilers. However, the feasibility of using cellulases and hemicellulases to improve the utilisation of cereal-based feeds by pastured poultry remains to be established. 3. A study was undertaken to investigate the capacity of a recombinant cellulase from Clostridium thermocellum to improve the nutritive value of a barley-based feed for free-range pastured broilers of the RedBro Cou Nu x RedBro M genotype. 4. The results show that supplementation of a barley-based diet with a recombinant beta-glucanase had no effect on the performance of free-range broilers, foraging in legume-based diets from d 28 to 56. In addition, the results confirm that the lack of effect of the recombinant enzyme in improving the nutritive value of the barley-based feed does not result from enzyme proteolysis or inhibition in the gastrointestinal tract. 5. Significantly, beta-glucanase activity was identified in the crop of non-supplemented animals. The data suggest that endogenous cellulases originated both from the barley-based feed and from the crop microflora. 6. The results presented here suggest that in older birds of slow-growing genotypes associated with free-range production systems, previously unknown sources of beta-glucanases, such as the feed and microbial symbiotic microflora, can affect the effectiveness of exogenous enzymes added to the feed.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cellulase; Chickens; Crops, Agricultural; Dietary Supplements; Glucan 1,3-beta-Glucosidase; Glycine max; Hordeum; Male; Meat; Recombinant Proteins; Weight Gain; Zea mays

Topics: Achillea; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Cellulase; Chickens; Eating; Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases; Female; Garlic; Random Allocation; Rosmarinus; Tannins; Weight Gain

1. The potential for the nutritional improvement of pea-based diets by supplementation with a cocktail of exogenous carbohydrases was investigated using growing broiler chicks. 2. Pea meals (grown in the UK) were included in wheat-based diets at 300 g/kg as a partial replacement for an approximately isonitrogenous mixture of wheat and soybean meal. A wheat/soybean meal diet served as a control and each diet was supplemented with a cocktail of alpha-amylase, pectinase and cellulase. The diets were fed to 1-d-old broiler chicks for a period of 21 d. Weight gain and feed conversion were monitored weekly and excreta were collected during the final week in order to determine nutrient digestibility coefficients and metabolisable energy. On d 21, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was excised and gross morphology measured. 3. Inclusion of pea meal reduced weight gain, feed conversion, nutrient digestibility and also increased the relative sizes of the distal sections of the GI tract. 4. Enzyme addition partially ameliorated the detrimental effects of pea meal inclusion although similar improvements were also noted for birds fed on the control diet. 5. It is concluded that the nutritive value of pea-meal-based diets can be improved by the addition of carbohydrases, and that some pea cultivars show considerable potential as vegetable protein sources for broiler chicks.

Topics: alpha-Amylases; Animal Feed; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Cellulase; Chickens; Dietary Supplements; Digestion; Digestive System; Feces; Female; Glycoside Hydrolases; Nutritive Value; Organ Size; Pisum sativum; Polygalacturonase; Random Allocation; Weight Gain

The effect of a fibrolytic enzyme formulation on N and P intake, partitioning, and excretion was evaluated in dairy cows in early and late lactation. Twelve lactating Holstein cows (6 early lactation, 6 late lactation) were fed diets with or without the enzyme formulation in a switchback design with three, 4-wk periods. Diets for the early lactation group contained 45% forage, and late lactation diets contained 61% forage. Cows fed diets containing the enzyme formulation gained more weight than those on the control diet; this weight gain with enzyme addition was greater in early lactation cows than in late lactation cows. The main effect of enzyme treatment did not significantly affect apparent digestibility or excretion of N and P, or retention of these nutrients in body tissue. Interactions observed between the effects of group (stage of lactation) and treatment indicated differences in the nature of the milk yield and manure excretion responses to enzyme treatment between early and late lactation cows. These interactions were due to numerical increases in milk yield, feces excretion, and N excretion in early lactation cows fed diets containing the enzyme formulation compared to control, and slight decreases in these measures in late lactation cows with enzyme addition. Cows fed diets containing a direct-fed fibrolytic enzyme formulation had increased body weight gain, but the effect of addition of the enzyme formulation on milk yield and manure nutrient excretion differed for early and late lactation cows.

Topics: Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Cattle; Cellulase; Diet; Digestion; Eating; Feces; Female; Lactation; Milk; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Weight Gain

1. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of dietary fibre sources on growth and on the development of the gastro-intestinal tract in growing geese. 2. Six-week-old female White Roman geese were divided at random into 6 groups with 6 dietary treatments. Diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous and contained alfalfa meal, barley bran, rice hulls, cellulose, pectin or lignin as the major dietary source of fibre. 3. Food intake was significantly higher in the barley bran group than in the other groups. Both daily weight gain and food conversion of the pectin and alfalfa meal groups were lower than those of the other groups. 4. In the 9-week-old geese, the relative weight and the length of the small intestine did not significantly differ among treatment groups. However, the relative weight was significantly lightest and the caecal length was significantly shortest (P < 0.05) in the pectin group. 5. Activities of amylase and cellulose hydrolases of the caecal contents were also highest in the pectin group. 6. From SEM micrographs, no morphological damage of the villi was observable in the different intestinal segments of the geese in any of the treatments.

Topics: Amylases; Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Animals; Cecum; Cellulase; Cellulose; Cellulose 1,4-beta-Cellobiosidase; Dietary Fiber; Female; Geese; Hordeum; Intestines; Lignin; Medicago sativa; Oryza; Pectins; Weight Gain

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of two enzyme preparations containing beta-glucanase and xylanase activities on barley- and wheat-based diets, respectively, for broilers, in combination with flavomycin. In addition, the stability of the enzyme preparations after pelleting was measured. Temperatures recorded during the pelleting process reached 75 to 80 C, and the activities recovered with respect to the amounts present in the mash feed before pelleting were 80% or higher. Two performance experiments were conducted simultaneously under the same conditions over 6 wk. In addition, intestinal viscosity and incidence of vent pasting were measured and carcasses were eviscerated to determine abdominal fat, carcass yield, and percentage weight of intestines and viscera. Twenty-four pens (12 per sex), each containing 75 chickens were used in each experiment. Wheat- or barley-based diets were supplemented with flavomycin and a xylanase or a beta-glucanase preparation, respectively, in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. In the wheat diets, xylanase and flavomycin improved feed efficiency, in parallel with a reduction of intestinal viscosity. Xylanase reduced the incidence of vent pasting and the percentage viscera, especially of intestines, and increased abdominal fat. In the barley diets, beta-glucanase and flavomycin improved feed conversion. beta-Glucanase also reduced intestinal viscosity and vent pasting. Both beta-glucanase and flavomycin reduced percentage intestines, but the effects were not additive. In general, the effects of the enzyme preparations and flavomycin were independent, except for percentage intestines with beta-glucanase.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bambermycins; Body Composition; Body Weight; Cellulase; Chickens; Dietary Supplements; Eating; Female; Food Analysis; Gastrointestinal Motility; Glycoside Hydrolases; Hordeum; Intestines; Male; Meat; Temperature; Triticum; Weight Gain; Xylan Endo-1,3-beta-Xylosidase; Xylosidases

Observations were carried out of actual acidity, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, enzyme activity in the rumen, total protein, urea, total lipid and glucose in the serum of conventional (CL) and gnotobiotic lambs (GL) in the period of milk nutrition. The inoculum of gnotobiotic lambs contained Streptococcus bovis, Prevoxella ruminicola, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and Selenomonas ruminantium at a concentration of 1.10(6) each. Throughout the observation period the pH of the rumen contents of gnotobiotic lambs ranged within 6.5-6.8 with a significant difference at an age of 7 weeks. Total VFA concentrations in the rumen contents were increased in the CL throughout milk nutrition: the differences at 4 and 5 weeks of age were significant. Total VFA in the conventional lambs revealed an increasing tendency between weeks 4 and 7, reaching higher levels at 7 weeks of age (57.1 mmol.l-1), whereas in the gnotobiotic animals the range (24.3-30.1 mmol.l-1) was narrow and the peak occurred at 6 weeks of age. In GL significantly increased molar proportions of acetic acid were observed whereas in CL the molar proportions of propionic acid proved to be significant increased. The molar proportions of butyric and valeric acids were increased in CL but the group differences were not significant. In GL no isoacids were found. Alpha amylase (E.C.3.2.1.1.) activity of the rumen contents was significantly increased in GL between weeks 2 and 6 of age whereas cellulase (endoglucanase E.C.3.2.1.4. and cellobiohydrolase E.C.3.2.1.91.) activity was significantly increased in 4-week-old CL. Over the whole period of milk nutrition no significant differences were observed in urease (E.C.3.5.1.5.) activity of the rumen contents in the examined groups. At 5 weeks of age significantly increased total protein levels were observed in the conventional animals with maximum levels occurring at 4 weeks of age (CL-59.5 g.l-1 GL-55.3 g.l-1). Urea levels in 6-week old conventional lambs were significantly higher than in the gnotobiotic animals (CL-6.4 mmol.l-1 vs. GL-1.9 mmol.l-1). As to glycaemia no significant group differences were recorded. In the conventional animals total lipid levels were significantly increased at 1 and 6 weeks of age with a peak occurring in the first week of life (7.5 g.l-1) whereas in the gnotobiotic lambs a significant increase was observed at 3 weeks of age, the peak being recorded in 4 week-old animals (4.3 g.l-1). Throughout the period of interest the mean

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Blood Glucose; Cellulase; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Female; Fermentation; Gastrointestinal Contents; Germ-Free Life; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lipids; Milk; Reference Values; Rumen; Sheep; Weight Gain

1. Three groups of birds were fed for up to 35 days on diets containing 500 g barley (cv. Condor)/kg diet, with or without exogenous beta-glucanase, either a commercial preparation or a recombinant endoglucanase. 2. Birds which received diets containing the exogenous enzymes grew faster for the first 3 weeks but after that there was no apparent difference in rate of growth. 3. beta-Glucanase activities in the crop and small intestine of birds given exogenous enzymes were generally higher than those of birds given only the basal diet. 4. Viscosity of intestinal fluid in birds given only the basal diet decreased with age but there was no corresponding increase in beta-glucanase activity. This discounts bacterial beta-glucanase as a contributory factor in the adaptation to beta-glucanase apparent in older birds.

Topics: Animals; Cellulase; Chickens; Clostridium; Diet; Escherichia coli; Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase; Glucans; Hordeum; Intestinal Secretions; Intestine, Small; Random Allocation; Recombinant Proteins; Viscosity; Weight Gain

In three trials with a total of 4120 male and female broilers, kept on floor or in cages maize has been partly replaced by barley, rye or triticale and different combinations of enzymes were fed. The supplementation of cellulases with mainly glucanase in barley based diets has had no significant influence on growth performance. In case of diets with 20% rye the addition of cellulases with mainly hemicellulases resulted in 5% higher live weight gains and a better feed efficiency (5%) on average of two trials. The negative influence of rye feeding on excrement constitution was lowered and the dry matter content of excrements increased by 1.3%. In diets based on triticale the growth performance of broilers was insignificantly better. The addition of enzymes did not influence the proportion of different body fractions as well as the crude nutrient content of edible carcass.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cellulase; Chickens; Enzymes; Female; Food, Fortified; Glucosidases; Hordeum; Male; Secale; Triticum; Weight Gain; Zea mays

1. Experiments were conducted to measure the effect of xylanase supplementation on the performance of broilers fed on wheat-based diets containing high and low extract viscosity wheat (experiment 1), baking and feeding quality wheat (experiment 2) and with variation in wheat content (experiment 3). 2. Xylanase supplementation improved food conversion ratios by 2.2-2.9% and body weight gain by 0.2-2.5%. This was independent of wheat characteristics but slightly dependent on the wheat content of the diet. These effects were related to a lowering of digesta viscosity. 3. Differences in extract viscosity of wheat were not reflected in broiler digesta viscosity. 4. Reduction of digesta viscosity resulted in only a slight improvement of litter score. Reduced intestinal viscosity decreased relative pancreas weight and to a lesser extent relative small intestinal weight. 5. Baking quality wheat Baldus gave better performance than the feed quality wheats Apollo and Slejpner. 6. It was concluded that xylanase supplementation of wheat-based diets invariably had a positive effect on broiler performance.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Cellulase; Chickens; Digestion; Food, Fortified; Gastrointestinal Contents; Glycoside Hydrolases; Triticum; Viscosity; Weight Gain; Xylan Endo-1,3-beta-Xylosidase; Xylosidases

The effect of composition of feed concentrate on the development of rumen digestion in suckling lambs was investigated. The experimental group of lambs was offered special concentrate diets (SCD I and SCD II), which, compared to routinely produced commercial mixtures CCD 1 and CCD 2, were completely cleared of milk protein, enriched with legumes and alfalfa meal and supplemented with cut alfalfa of the particle size 1 cm. Significantly higher concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (VFA) were recorded in experimental lambs at the age of 7, 9 and 11 weeks. The highest concentration of total VFA was observed at the age of 11 weeks (118.2 mmol.l-1 in the experimental group and 110.2 mmol.l-1 in the control group). The cellulase activity (endoglucanase E.C.3.2.1.4. and cellobiohydralase E.C 3.2.1.91.) of the rumen content of experimental lambs was significantly higher at the age of 9, 11 and 15 weeks, in comparison with the control animals, reaching the highest values at 11 weeks of age (19.32 micrograms.ml-1 in the experimental group, 15.84 micrograms.ml-1 in the control group), while the increase of number of cellulolytic bacteria in experimental lambs was insignificant. Scanning electron microscopy showed more pronounced colonization of the rumen epithelium by adherent rumen microflora in experimental lambs. Average daily weight gains over the whole investigated period reached 0.235 kg in the experimental group and 0.221 kg in the control group.

Topics: alpha-Amylases; Animal Feed; Animals; Animals, Suckling; Bacteria, Anaerobic; Cellulase; Diet; Digestion; Eating; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Rumen; Sheep; Weight Gain

The influence of enzyme supplementation on the bioavailable energy (AME(n)) and apparent digestibilities of lipid (ALD) and protein (APD) in young broiler chicks was examined for diets containing either wheat, hulled or hulless barley, naked oats, or spring rye. Dietary AME(n), APD, and ALD values were depressed (P less than or equal to .01) for all test grains (except hulled Bedford barley) as the inclusion rate of the grain replacing wheat increased. The antinutritives, beta-glucans (barley and oats) and pentosans (rye), had the most pronounced effect on ALD. The decreases in ALD were 43, 77, and 67% for chicks fed diets containing 70% Scout barley (hulless), Terra oats, and Gazelle rye, respectively, compared with those fed the control wheat diet. Enzyme supplementation increased (P less than or equal to .01) AME(n), APD, and ALD for all test cereals. The corresponding increases in the AME(n), of the enzyme-supplemented diets containing 70% HY320 wheat, Bedford barley, Scout barley, Terra oats, and Gazelle rye diets were 4, 7, 42, 33, and 14%, respectively, compared with their unsupplemented counterparts. Enzyme treatment also improved (P less than or equal to .01) weight gains and feed conversion efficiencies of chicks fed diets containing each of the cereals. Overall, the results demonstrate that the nutritive value of cereal grains such as wheat, barley, oats, and rye can be improved by the addition of crude fungal extracts to the diet of young chicks.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cellulase; Chickens; Dietary Fats; Dietary Proteins; Digestion; Edible Grain; Energy Metabolism; Hordeum; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Nutritive Value; Secale; Triticum; Weight Gain

Second-crop, mixed grass-legume forage was ensiled in four bunker silos either untreated or after application at the forage harvester of an enzyme mixture containing cellulase, xylanase, cellobiase, and glucose oxidase, a commercial inoculant, or both additives combined. Sixteen multiparous midlactation Holstein cows in a 4 x 4 Latin square design received each silage in a 50:50 forage: concentrate diet to determine effects of silage additives on milk production and composition. Enzyme treatment reduced silage pH, concentrations of xylose and total sugars, and concentration and proportion of cell-wall arabinose. Titratable acidity, buffering capacity, concentration of residual water-soluble carbohydrate, and digestibility of DM in vitro were increased, and levels of silage structural carbohydrates were reduced. Inoculation, both alone and in the combined treatment, reduced silage pH compared with control, but inoculation alone was more effective than the combination. Enzyme treatment increased DMI and production of milk, FCM, SCM, milk protein, and milk SNF. The two silage additives were antagonistic when combined and did not improve silage fermentation, nutritional value, or animal performance, and enzyme degradation of forage structural carbohydrates was reduced. Inoculation also reduced silage aerobic stability. Combination of enzyme systems with inoculants requires careful evaluation to avoid antagonistic interactions.

Topics: Animals; beta-Glucosidase; Cattle; Cellulase; Eating; Enzymes; Fabaceae; Female; Fermentation; Glucose Oxidase; Glycoside Hydrolases; Lactation; Plants, Medicinal; Silage; Temperature; Weight Gain; Xylan Endo-1,3-beta-Xylosidase

Two dose-response experiments utilizing differing enzyme concentrations were carried out to determine the level of a crude enzyme preparation (Trichoderma viride cellulase) required to obtain maximum growth performance in young broiler chicks fed a 60% rye diet. Enzyme concentrations utilized in these studies ranged from .05 to 12.8 g enzyme/kg diet. Enzyme supplementation at the 3.2 g/kg diet level yielded increases in feed consumption and weight gain of 71 and 193%, respectively; and the feed to gain ratio was improved by 43% compared with that for the unsupplemented rye control diet. As no further growth response was obtained by increasing the enzyme concentration, the enzyme level utilized in a subsequent study was 3.2 g/kg diet. A balance study using 2-wk-old broiler chicks was carried out to determine the effect of enzyme supplementation on the bioavailable energy (AMEn) and apparent protein digestibility (APD) of a 60% wheat diet replaced by rye in 10% increments. In the 60% rye diets, the enzyme addition increased the dietary AMEn and APD by 23 and 12%, respectively, compared with the unsupplemented diet. The AMEn and APD of the 60% wheat control diet were increased 9.7 and 4.6%, respectively, by enzyme addition. The data suggest that the AMEn of rye grain is increased by enzyme supplementation; however, alternate methodology will have to be employed to quantitatively determine the extent of these improvements.

Topics: Animal Feed; Animals; Cellulase; Chickens; Dietary Proteins; Digestion; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Eating; Energy Metabolism; Least-Squares Analysis; Male; Nutritive Value; Regression Analysis; Secale; Trichoderma; Weight Gain