# Effect of endo-1,4-xylanase and a complex of xylanase and β-glucanase supplementation on growth performance, energy utilization, and meat quality in broiler chickens

## TL;DR

Adding xylanase and beta-glucanase enzymes to low-energy chicken feed improves growth and efficiency without affecting meat quality.

## Contribution

The study identifies optimal enzyme combinations for different growth phases in broiler diets to enhance energy utilization and feed efficiency.

## Key findings

- Xylanase and beta-glucanase improved feed and energy conversion during the grower phase.
- Xylanase alone improved efficiency in the finisher phase without affecting meat quality.
- Carcass yield and meat quality remained consistent across all treatments.

## Abstract

Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in cereal-based poultry diets can impair nutrient digestibility and increase intestinal viscosity, reducing growth performance. Supplementation with NSP-degrading enzymes such as endo-1,4-xylanase and β-glucanase can improve energy utilization and feed efficiency. This study evaluated the effects of xylanase alone or in combination with β-glucanase on growth performance, carcass yield, and meat quality of broiler chickens fed energy-reduced diets.

A total of 320 male Ross 308 broilers were distributed into four treatments with eight replicates of ten birds: Positive control (PC), negative control (NC; −100 kcal dietary metabolizable energy/kg), NC + xylanase (12.45 Internation Units [IU]/kg), and NC + xylanase + β-glucanase (12.45 + 12.8 IU/kg). Birds were reared for 37 days under a three-phase feeding program (starter, 1–10 days; grower, 11–24 days; finisher, 25–37 days). Growth indices, feed conversion ratio (FCR), energy conversion ratio (ECR), and European production efficiency factor (EPEF) were recorded. At 38 days, carcass yield, organ weights, and breast meat quality (pH, color, drip loss, wooden-breast, and white-striping scores) were assessed.

During the grower phase, enzyme supplementation significantly improved FCR, ECR, and EPEF compared with NC (p < 0.05). The combined xylanase + β-glucanase treatment produced energy-efficiency and cost benefits comparable to PC. In the finisher phase, xylanase alone improved FCR and ECR (p < 0.05). No significant effects on carcass yield, internal organ proportions, or breast meat quality were observed (p > 0.05). The incidence of wooden-breast and white-striping myopathies remained minimal across all groups.

Supplementation with xylanase and β-glucanase enhances nutrient utilization and feed efficiency in low-energy corn–soybean diets without compromising carcass or meat quality. A combination of xylanase + β-glucanase is most beneficial during the grower phase, while xylanase alone optimizes performance during the finisher phase, providing a cost-effective and sustainable feeding strategy for broiler production.