The Effect of Replacement of Canola Meal with Enzymatically Modified Canola Meal (ECM) on Growth Performance and Nutrient Utilization of Broiler Chickens

Canola meal (CM) is a valuable source of protein for poultry, despite a presence of substantial amount of non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). Supplementation of poultry diets containing CM with enzymes is an effective mean to improve its nutritive value. The enzymatic hydrolysis of NSP not only improves their digestibility and release some metabolizable energy, but also contributes to the production of prebiotic type NSP hydrolysis products, which might benefit animal health and performance. In our earlier research, the optimal composition and concentration of ingredient-specific carbohydrase enzymes to target the NSP of CM was determined in vitro. The most effective enzyme blend containing pectinase, xylanase, and invertase activities lead to depolymerization of 47.9% of NSP of CM and has been selected for the production of the enzyme-modified prebiotic type CM (ECM) for animal studies.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacement of CM with a value-added ECM on growth performance, nutrient utilization and gut health of broiler chickens. Four-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were assigned to 3 dietary treatments, each consisting of 8 pens of 8 birds each. Birds were raised in electrically heated Super Brooders under controlled environment for 21 days. Birds were fed the Starter and Grower Control diets containing 10% and 20% of CM, respectively, and the experimental diets, where ECM replaced 5% or entire 10% of CM for starter and 20% of CM for grower diets. Body weight and feed intake were recorded on day 4, 14 and 21 of the study. Samples of ileal digesta and excreta were collected to determine the digestibility of nutrients, energy and NSP. Sialic acids, as a components of mucins, was measured to determine the mucin production and gut response to antinutritive properties of fibre components.

Results showed that replacing CM with ECM significantly increased apparent total tract digestibility of NSP and AMEn contents, nitrogen retention in the starter phase, and decreased sialic acid/mucin production in the grower phase. Our research suggests that replacing CM with ECM can improve nutrient digestibility, decrease endogenous losses in poultry due to prebiotic properties of enzymatically released bioactive components of fibre. Enzymatically enhanced CM can improve gut health of broiler chickens and would benefit poultry industry by supporting the antibiotic-free feeding programs.

Key words: carbohydrase, canola meal, enzymatically modified canola meal (ECM), non-starch polysaccharides (NSP), broiler chicken.

Presented at the 2021 Animal Nutrition Conference of Canada. For information on the next edition, click here.