Effect of enzyme preparation containing xylanase and beta-glucanase on performance of laying hens fed wheat/barley- or maize/soybean meal-based diets.

1. A commercial enzyme preparation (Quatrazyme HP) containing xylanase and beta-glucanase was examined in two laying hen experiments with wheat/barley- or maize-based diets. The activities of other enzymes were measured also. Starch, cell wall contents and effects of Quatrazyme HP on in vitro viscosity of wheat, barley, maize and soybean meal were determined. 2. In the first experiment, 90 ISA Brown laying hens at 28 weeks of age were given a wheat/barley basal diet with or without 20mg of Quatrazyme HP, which provided 560 and 2,800 IU of xylanase and beta-glucanase/kg diet. In the second experiment, 66 ISA Brown laying hens at 45 weeks of age were given a maize/soybean meal basal diet with or without 20 mg of Quatrazyme HP/kg diet for 9 weeks. Egg production, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion ratio and change in body weight were recorded as response criteria. 3. There was a significant improvement in feed conversion ratio with enzyme supplementation. Birds given an enzyme-supplemented diet gained 86 g while those fed on the unsupplemented diet lost 103 g of their body weight by the end of the experiment. 4. The enzyme preparation did not affect either egg production, egg weight or egg mass of birds fed on the maize/soybean meal diet. However, a significant improvement in feed conversion ratio was detected. Birds on either the supplemented or unsupplemented diet exhibited an increase in their body weight at the end of the experiment. 5. Addition of xylanase and beta-glucanase decreased in vitro viscosity of wheat, barley, maize and soybean meal. This effect was greater for wheat and barley than for maize and soybean meal. 6. It was concluded that the beneficial effect of using an enzyme preparation containing xylanase and beta-glucanase is not limited to wheat/barley-based diets but also occurs with maize/soybean meal-based diets.