Objective: The prime objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding low energy diets and non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) enzymes on some growth- and carcass-related parameters in broilers.
Methods: A total of 240 chicks (1 day of age) were randomly allocated to two groups, each comprising 6 replicates of 20 chicks. The birds were fed two diets, optimum control (23, 21 and 19% CP by 3000, 3040, 3140 kcal/kg of diets without NSP enzymes supplementation) and low ME (23, 21 and 19% CP by lowering 60 kcal/kg from each optimum ME level plus 100g/ton of NSP enzymes supplementation) during starter, grower and finisher periods, respectively.
Results: Compared to the control treatment, no significant difference (p < /em> > 0.05) in body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio was observed with the low ME diet with NSP enzymes supplemented. Also, dietary low ME with NPS enzymes supplementation did not affect carcass, breast, and thigh muscles (p < /em> > 0.05). Nevertheless, the NSP enzymes supplementation to low ME broilers diets did not decrease the total cholesterol and triglyceride plasma concentration. Furthermore, neither aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase glucose, total protein nor albumin were significantly changed.
Conclusion: The supplementation of NSP enzymes is needed to support the performance and physiological activities of the broilers when fed the dietary low energy diets. However, no adverse effect such as lower lipid profile was observed when NSP enzymes supplementation with low ME diets were simultaneously applied in this study.