# Replacement of Soya DOC by rice distiller's dried grains with solubles supplemented with protease enzyme and its effect on performance, nutrient metabolizability, carcass traits and gut health of broiler chicken

## TL;DR

This study explores replacing soya in broiler chicken feed with rice distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) supplemented with protease enzyme, finding it can be done up to 20% without harming growth or gut health.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that rice DDGS supplemented with protease enzyme can replace soya in broiler diets up to 20% without adverse effects and improves economics at 15%.

## Key findings

- Broiler chickens fed with 15% rice DDGS supplemented with protease enzyme showed comparable growth performance and better economics than the control group.
- Inclusion of rice DDGS up to 20% did not negatively affect carcass traits, gut health, or histological changes in the intestine.
- Protease supplementation improved crude protein metabolizability in rice DDGS-fed broilers to levels comparable to the control diet.

## Abstract

The study was conducted to utilise rice distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as a protein source in broiler chicken supplemented with protease enzyme and also to assess its effect on growth performance, nutrient metabolizability, carcass traits, gut health and economics of broiler production.

The study was conducted on three hundred day-old straight-run commercial broiler chicks which were divided into five groups of four replications each and fed as CG control receiving a standard basal diet;15- rice-based distillers' dried grains with solubles (RDDGS) with 15 percent rice DDGS;15-(rice distillers dried grains with solubles supplemented with enzyme)RDDGSE with 15 percent rice DDGS supplemented with protease enzyme @ 300g/ton of feed;20-RDDGS with 20 percent rice DDGS and 20-RDDGSE with 20 percent rice DDGS supplemented with protease enzyme @ 300 g/ton of feed.

The final body weights were higher (p<0.01) and FCR was better (p<0.05) for CG and comparable with 15-RDDGS and 15-RDDGSE. The CP metabolizability, was higher (p<0.05) for CG than 15 and 20 percent rice DDGS groups; however, the CP metabolizability for protease supplemented 15 and 20 percent rice DDGS groups was comparable with control diet. The total viable count and Escherichia coli count revealed non-significant differences. There was no negative impact on histological changes in intestine due to the inclusion of rice DDGS. There was no negative impact on histological changes such as crypt depth, villus width and villus height in intestine due to interaction between DDGS and enzyme. The carcass traits revealed non-significant differences for dressing percentage, overall giblet weight and abdominal fat.

It was concluded that rice DDGS can be incorporated up to 20 levels in broiler diet without any adverse effect; however, inclusion of 15 percent rice DDGS supplemented with protease enzyme proved to be more economical in broilers.