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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effects of xylanase supplementation on between-bird variation in energy metabolism and the number of Clostridium perfringens in broilers fed a wheat-based diet

M. Choct A E , M. Sinlae A B , R. A. M. Al-Jassim A C and D. Pettersson D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Rural Science and Agriculture, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

B Current address: University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang 85001, Indonesia.

C Current address: School of Animal Studies, Faculty of Natural Resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.

D Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark.

E Corresponding author. Email: mchoct@une.edu.au

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(9) 1017-1021 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05340
Submitted: 27 September 2005  Accepted: 2 May 2006   Published: 30 August 2006

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted to examine: (a) the apparent metabolisable energy (AME) contents, the level of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), and the extract viscosity value of 9 wheat samples; (b) the efficacy of a xylanase in reducing between-bird variation for AME; and (c) the effect of a xylanase on the number of Clostridium perfringens in broilers fed a low AME wheat diet. Experiment 1 revealed that the AME value of wheat varied from 11.5 to 13.6 MJ/kg dry matter (DM), which negatively correlated with the total NSP level (r = –0.97). Experiment 2 involved a 48-cage individual bird trial, where xylanase increased (P < 0.05) the AME from 12.51 to 13.09 MJ/kg DM and reduced (P < 0.05) its standard deviation from 1.13 to 0.52. The standard deviation for feed conversion ratio, ileal viscosity, and faecal viscosity was also reduced. In this experiment, there was a strong correlation between AME and excreta viscosity (r = –0.81) and the caecal xylanase activity of birds fed the control diet was positively correlated with AME (r = 0.72). In Expt 3, xylanase reduced the number of Clostridium perfringens, the causative agent for necrotic enteritis, to a non-detectable level in the ileum and caeca of broilers fed a low-ME wheat diet.

Additional keywords: non-starch polysaccharides, gut microflora.


Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr Geoff Ross, then with Novo Nordisk Australia, for suggestions and input into the study. Mr Grahame Chaffey, Ms Kylie Day, Ms Maria Hyland, Dr Andreas Kocher, Ms Yvette Lieschke-Mercer, Mr Mark Porter, Ms Shuyu Song, Mr Gary Taylor, and Mr Dan Waters from the University of New England are thanked for their participation in the study and technical support.


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