Supplementation of triticale-based diets with xylanase improved the nutritive value when incorporated at 75 per cent of the recommended dose, according to research published in Journal of Applied Poultry Research.

The scientists, from Pólo Universitário do Alto da Ajuda in Lisbon and Instituto Nacional de Recursos Biológicos (INRB)/Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária (INIA) in Elvas, suggested that the xylanase may modulate bird performance through the microflora route; as expected, incorporation of the exogenous enzymes reduced digesta viscosity. However, xylanase incorporation at 100 and 200 per cent of the recommended levels had no significant effects on bird performance.

Triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye, is a cereal grain that displays a nutritive value similar to wheat and a resistance to hard agronomic conditions, which are more identical to rye, according to first author, A.R. Mendes and co-authors. Because it is cheaper than wheat or maize, triticale may be a potential alternative raw material for broiler diets. However, triticale is known to contain a significant proportion of soluble arabinoxylans, which are known to act as anti-nutritive factors in poultry. The levels of soluble polysaccharides in triticale are similar to wheat and lower than rye.

In their present study, the capacity of xylanases, used at different levels, to improve the nutritive value of a triticale-based diet for broilers was investigated.

Reference

Mendes A.R., T. Ribeiro, B.A. Correia, P. Bule, B. Maççãs, L. Falcão, J.P.B. Freire, L.M.A. Ferreira, C.M.G.A. Fontes and M.M. Lordelo. 2013. Low doses of exogenous xylanase improve the nutritive value of triticale-based diets for broilers. J. Appl. Poult. Res. 22(1):92-99. doi: 10.3382/japr.2012-00610

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