Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Aspergillus Xylanase on Broiler Chickens Performance

The effect of Aspergillus xylanase (ASXYL) supplementation to maize-soybean diets on serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alanine aminotransferase, microbial examination, growth traits, carcass characteristics and meat quality traits of broiler chickens was investigated. Three hundred one-day-old mixed sex “Cobb 500” broiler chicks were allotted to 5 dietary treatments with 5 replicates of 12 birds each. The treatments include, ASXYL0 (0 g/kg), ASXYL10 (1 g/kg), ASXYL15 (1.5 g/kg), ASXYL20 (2 g/kg) and ASXYL25 (2.5 g/kg). Birds fed ASXYL20 had the highest (P<0.05) body weight with an improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and a higher values for thigh, breast, wing and carcass yields. Neck weight was high (P<0.05) for fed birds ASXYL0, ASXYL15 and ASXYL20. Drumstick recorded higher (P<0.05) value for birds fed ASXYL20 though, similar to ASXYL10, ASXYL15 and ASXYL25. Drip and cooking loss decreased (P<0.05) with increased supplemental levels of ASXY while shear force increased (P<0.05) as ASXYL supplementation increased. Urea, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase decreased (P<0.05) with increased supplemental levels of ASXYL while glucose level increased (P<0.05) with increased levels of ASXYL supplementation. Supplementary ASXYL influenced (P<0.05) the proliferation of Lactobacillus counts in ileum and caecum while no difference (P>0.05) was observed on the population of Bifidobacteria and Escherichia coli in both ileum and caecum of broilers at the end of the feeding trial. It was concluded that dietary ASXYL20 produced a much improved body weight and retail cut yields. Again, the bio-markers showed that ASXYLimproved the health status of broiler chicken and the tested enzyme influenced a positive intestinal environment.