Flock Uniformity, Blood Indices, and Nutrient Retention of Broiler Chickens Fed Low Energy and Protein Diets Supplemented with Multi-Enzyme

A feeding trial was conducted using two-hundred-day-old male Ross-308 broiler chickens to evaluate the effect of multi-enzyme (Natuzyme (R)) on flock uniformity, some haematological and serum biochemical indices, and nutrient retention in broiler chickens fed low energy and protein (LEP) diets. The birds were randomly assigned to four experimental groups of 50 birds each in a completely randomized design. There were five replicates for each treatment group, with 10 chicks per replicate. The first group (positive control/PC) received a standard diet without multi-enzyme supplementation; whereas the LEP0, LEP0.25 and LEP0.50 groups received low-energy-protein diet (LEP) supplemented with multi-enzyme at 0 (negative control), 0.25, and 0.50 g/kg feed, respectively. The PC group received a standard diet having energy and protein of (3000 kcal/kg and 23%) and (3200 kcal/kg and 20%) at starter and finisher phases respectively. Other groups received LEP diets having energy and protein of the standard diet decreased by 100 kcal/kg and 0.60% both at starter and finisher phases. The feeding trial lasted for 42 days. On days 21 and 42 of the experiment, birds under the LEP0 and LEP0.25 groups had lower (P < 0.05) flock uniformity compared to those of PC and LEP0.50 groups. There was no significant effect of the dietary treatments on haematological and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens. Birds fed LEP0 and LEP0.25 diets had significantly (P < 0.05) low metabolizable energy (ME), crude fiber (CF) and crude protein (CP) retention compared with the PC group. On the other hand, Broiler chickens offered the LEP0.50 diet had improved (P < 0.05) apparent ME, CF and CP retention. Results of the study suggest that multi-enzyme supplementation at 0.50 g/kg to low energy and protein broiler chicken diet improved flock uniformity as well as metabolizable energy, CF and protein retention without adverse effects on haematological indices and serum, metabolites.