# Effect of Replacing Conventional Corn with Corn Containing Thermostable α-Amylase Enzyme (AMY797E) in Standard and Low-Energy Diets in Laying Hens

## TL;DR

Replacing regular corn with a special corn containing an enzyme improved egg production and feed efficiency in hens, but low-energy diets harmed bone health.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that Enogen corn improves feed efficiency and egg production in laying hens without affecting body composition.

## Key findings

- Enogen corn improved feed efficiency by 8% and increased egg production by 6–10%.
- Reducing dietary energy by 200 kcal/kg worsened feed efficiency and reduced bone mineral density.
- Enogen corn had no effect on body weight or body composition in hens.

## Abstract

Egg producers always seek to maximize the conversion of feed into eggs by improving feed ingredients. A major component of layer feed is corn, which contains starch that is not always fully digested. This inefficiency can lead to wasted energy and reduced performance. We tested whether replacing conventional corn with Enogen corn (a hybrid that expresses a thermostable starch-digesting enzyme) could improve the performance of laying hens. A total of 320 hens were fed either conventional or Enogen corn under two energy levels (standard or reduced) from 18 to 45 weeks of age. We measured egg production, feed efficiency, body composition, and bone health. Hens fed Enogen corn used less feed per dozen eggs by about 8% and laid 6–10% more eggs during 35–45 weeks of age, without changes in body weight, body fat, and muscle. Lowering dietary energy reduced the feed efficiency by about 5% and increased the porosity of cortical bone. Enogen corn did not prevent these bone changes. However, Enogen corn improved feed efficiency and egg production. Therefore, replacing conventional corn with Enogen corn can help producers lower feed costs in laying hen diets, but diets must be supplied with adequate energy to protect bone health.

In laying hens, the undigested starch in conventional corn can reduce the efficiency of their diet. Therefore, the current study evaluated the effects of replacing conventional corn with a corn hybrid expressing thermostable α-amylase (Enogen corn) in standard and energy-deficient diets in laying hens. A total of 320 White Leghorn hens were assigned to four dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design of corn type (conventional and Enogen) and energy density (standard and 200 kcal/kg reduction) from 18–45 weeks of age. Enogen corn diet improved overall feed efficiency by 8% (p < 0.001) and increased egg production by 6–10% (p < 0.05) during 35–45 weeks compared to conventional corn diet. Yolk weight was also improved by Enogen corn at 35 and 45 weeks (p < 0.05), with no significant effect on body weight and body composition (p > 0.05). Reducing dietary energy led to higher feed intake during 36–45 weeks (p = 0.017), worsened overall feed efficiency (p = 0.030), and decreased cortical bone mineral density (p = 0.035). In conclusion, replacing conventional corn with Enogen corn improved feed efficiency and egg production, whereas a 200 kcal/kg energy reduction triggered compensatory intake and impaired cortical bone quality.