MVSc

The effect of three levels of cellulose enzyme viz., 0.06, 0.12 and 0.18 per cent in high fibre layer rations on production performance and on nutrient availability of egg type chicken was evaluated using one hundred and fifty ‘F’ strain of Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets of 21 week of age for a period of 20 weeks. The birds were divided in to five dietary treatment groups viz., Standared layer ration (T1), high fibre layer ration (T2), high fibre layer ration with 0.06 per cent cellulase (T3) high fibre layer ration with 0.12 per cent cellulase(T4), high fibre layer ration with 0.18 per cent cellulase(T5). Standard layer ration (SLR) was formulated as per BIS (1992) specification for chicken layers. The high fibre layer ration was similar to SLR except the level of crude fibre which was enhanced to 12 per cent. The inclusion level of undecorticated sunflower cake was enhanced in order to obtain the desired level of crude fibre in the high fibre layer ration. The mean daily feed intake per bird was significantly (p<0.01) higher in birds fed high fibre diet with out enzyme and was different from all other groups. A numerical improvement in per cent hen-day and hen-housed egg production was noticed among enzyme supplemented groups. However, the increase was not statistically significant. Numerically superior feed efficiency was observed with all the enzyme supplemented groups when compared with standard layer diet as well as high fibre diet without enzyme. However, the differences among various treatments in feed per dozen eggs were not statistically significant. The gain in body weight of birds fed on high fibre diet with 0.12 per cent cellulase was significantly (p<0.05) higher than unsupplemented high fibre diet. Body weight gain was statistically comparable among birds fed on high fibre diet supplemented with different levels of cellulase and those fed with SLR. Cellulase supplementation did not have any significant influence on mean egg weight. Cellulase addition did not improve the dry matter digestibility. The apparent metabolisable energy (AME) values were significantly (P<0.01) higher in birds fed with high fibre diet supplemented with 0.12 and 0.18 per cent cellulase than unsupplemented high fibre control. The AME values of standard and enzyme fed groups were statistically comparable. Cellulase supplementation significantly (p<0.01) improved the apparent protein digestibility and ether extract digestibility when compared with high fibre control. Though numerical increase in the digestibility of fibre fractions viz., ADF and NDF was observed due to cellulase supplementation, differences were not significant among treatments, supplementation of cellulase enzyme significantly (P<0.01) reduced the moisture content of droppings when compared with unsupplemented high fibre diet. The viscosity of intestinal contents was significantly lower (p<0.01) in birds fed with high fibre diet supplemented with varying levels of cellulase. Cost of production of eggs was lower in all enzymes supplemented groups when compared with standard layer diet and high fibre diet without enzyme addition.

Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that cellulase supplementation in high fibre later ration is beneficial especially when fibrous agricultural by-products are used as alternate feed ingredients in the chicken diet.