The effect of pelleting an enzyme-supplemented barley-based broiler diet

A broiler diet (22% crude protein, 11.4 MJ metabolizable energy kg−1) based on barley (50%) and maize (20%) was provided ad libitum as mash or as pellets, to male broiler breeder chickens from 0 to 21 days of age. Diets were fed with or without the addition of a beta-glucanase-based multi-enzyme preparation. Pelleting significantly increased live weight by 7.8%, feed intake by 5.1% and improved the feed conversion ratio by 3.2%. Enzyme supplementation significantly increased live weight by 4.5% and the feed conversion ratio by 4.3%. Enzyme supplementation was more effective on the mash than on the pelleted diets for improving the feed conversion ratio and reducing the frequency of sticky droppings, as indicated by the significant interaction between type of diet and enzyme supplementation. Enzyme supplementation of the mash also tended to have a more pronounced effect on weight gain than supplementation of the pelleted diets.