Formulating poultry diets based on their indigestible components

Evaluation of Increasing Dietary Concentrations of a Multi-Enzyme Complex in Feedlot Lambs' Rations

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of the M-E complex (xylanase, glucanase, cellulase, and invertase) Optimax E® on the performance of growing lambs, their digestibility, and their rumen microbiota, and to estimate NEm, NEg, and ruminal methane levels. Forty lambs (Katahdin x Dorset; 22.91 ± 4.16 kg) were randomly assigned to dietary concentrations of ME (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8% DM) and fed individually for 77 days. Increasing M-E improved feed conversion (p < 0.05) as well as NEm and NEg (p < 0.05), which were associated with increased in vivo DM and NDF digestion (linear and quadratic p < 0.01). Few microbial families showed abundancy changes (Erysipelotrichaceae, Christensenellaceae, Lentisphaerae, and Clostridial Family XIII); however, the dominant phylum Bacteroidetes was linearly reduced, while Firmicutes increased (p < 0.01), resulting in a greater Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio. Total Entodinium showed a quadratic response (p < 0.10), increasing its abundancy as the enzyme dose was augmented. The daily emission intensity of methane (per kg of DMI or AGD) was reduced linearly (p < 0.01). In conclusion, adding the M-E complex Optimax E® to growing lambs' diets improves their productive performance by acting synergistically with the rumen microbiota, modifying the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio toward more efficient fermentation, and shows the potential to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from lambs.

Carbohydrate-active enzymes in animal feed

Considering an ever-growing global population, which hit 8 billion people in the fall of 2022, it is essential to find solutions to avoid the competition between human food and animal feed for croplands. Agricultural co-products have become important components of the circular economy with their use in animal feed. Their implementation was made possible by the addition of exogenous enzymes in the diet, especially carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). In this review, we describe the diversity and versatility of microbial CAZymes targeting non-starch polysaccharides to improve the nutritional potential of diets containing cereals and protein meals. We focused our attention on cellulases, hemicellulases, pectinases which were often found to be crucial in vivo. We also highlight the performance and health benefits brought by the exogenous addition of enzymatic cocktails containing CAZymes in the diets of monogastric animals. Taking the example of the well-studied commercial cocktail Rovabio™, we discuss the evolution, constraints and future challenges faced by feed enzymes suppliers. We hope that this review will promote the use and development of enzyme solutions for industries to sustainably feed humans in the future.

Growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broiler chickens as affected by a novel protease

Two experiments evaluated the addition of an exogenous sfericase protease in broiler diets. Experiments were run (Exp1 and Exp2) with 1,848 and 2,100 one-day-old male chicks being allocated into 84 floor pens with 14 replicates of 22 and 25 birds each, respectively. The studies were conducted in completely randomized designs. In Exp1, Standard diets were formulated with energy and AA at marginally lower levels than usual by the Brazilian integration such that broilers were expected to grow at comparatively reduced rates to the industry whereas in Exp2, the Standard diets were formulated using energy and AA as usual by the Brazilian integrations such that broilers were expected to grow comparable to industry rates. Standard diets had ideally balanced amino acids (AA). Matrix diets, in contrast, had reductions of 6% digestible lysine and of 20 kcal AME/kg compared to the Standard. Matrix diets were supplemented with an sfericase protease at 0, 10,000, and 30,000 New Feed Protease units (NFP)/kg. Outcomes showed no interaction between diet and protease in any of the experiments. However, broilers fed Standard diets had higher cumulative body weight gain (BWG) to 35 and 42 d when compared to Matrix fed birds whereas FCR were worse for birds fed the Matrix diets at 35 d in EXP1 and at 35 and 42 d in EXP2. Improvements in FCR were observed when the sfericase protease was added throughout all ages in EXP1 with a beneficial trend (P&lt;0.067) observed in the cumulative FCR at 42 d in EXP2. The ileal digestible crude protein (IDCP) was significantly higher for birds fed Standard feeds in EXP1 with no other differences in digestibility found in any of the experiments. Protease addition led to improvements in ileal digestibility of dry matter (IDM) and IDCP (P &lt; 0.05) compared to no protease addition in EXP1 as well as in ileal digestibility of energy (IDE) when 30,000 protease units were added. The present report demonstrates that the novel sfericase protease was successful in compensate broiler performance when reductions of 6% digestible Lys and 20 kcal/kg AME were imposed. This compensation, however, seemed more notable when birds were fed diets formulated to support moderate rather than maximum growth and having animal protein in the feed formula.

Lignocellulolytic Biocatalysts: The Main Players Involved in Multiple Biotechnological Processes for Biomass Valorization

Human population growth, industrialization, and globalization have caused several pressures on the planet's natural resources, culminating in the severe climate and environmental crisis which we are facing. Aiming to remedy and mitigate the impact of human activities on the environment, the use of lignocellulolytic enzymes for biofuel production, food, bioremediation, and other various industries, is presented as a more sustainable alternative. These enzymes are characterized as a group of enzymes capable of breaking down lignocellulosic biomass into its different monomer units, making it accessible for bioconversion into various products and applications in the most diverse industries. Among all the organisms that produce lignocellulolytic enzymes, microorganisms are seen as the primary sources for obtaining them. Therefore, this review proposes to discuss the fundamental aspects of the enzymes forming lignocellulolytic systems and the main microorganisms used to obtain them. In addition, different possible industrial applications for these enzymes will be discussed, as well as information about their production modes and considerations about recent advances and future perspectives in research in pursuit of expanding lignocellulolytic enzyme uses at an industrial scale.

Fungal xylanolytic enzymes: Diversity and applications

As important polysaccharide degraders in nature, fungi can diversify their extensive set of carbohydrate-active enzymes to survive in ecological habitats of various composition. Among these enzymes, xylanolytic ones can efficiently and sustainably degrade xylans into (fermentable) monosaccharides to produce valuable chemicals or fuels from, for example relevant for upgrading agro-food industrial side streams. Moreover, xylanolytic enzymes are being used in various industrial applications beyond biomass saccharification, e.g. food, animal feed, biofuel, pulp and paper. As a reference for researchers working in related areas, this review summarized the current knowledge on substrate specificity of xylanolytic enzymes from different families of the Carbohydrate-Active enZyme database. Additionally, the diversity of enzyme sets in fungi were discussed by comparing the number of genes encoding xylanolytic enzymes in selected fungal genomes. Finally, to support bio-economy, the current applications of fungal xylanolytic enzymes in industry were reviewed.

Effects of Spirogyra jaoensis as a dietary supplement on growth, pectoralis muscle performance, and small intestine morphology of broiler chickens

AIM

This study aimed to examine the effect of dietary Spirogyra jaoensis in starter feed on growth performance, pectoralis muscle (PM) growth, and small intestine morphology of broiler chickens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred twenty one-day-old Cobb-500 broilers (body weight 46±2.6 g) were divided into four equal groups with 3 replicates in each group and given basal feed supplemented with dried S. jaoensis at doses of 0%, 0.5%, 1%, or 2%. The treatment was carried out until the chickens were 18 days old to examine growth of broiler chicks at starter period (8-21 days old).

RESULTS

Supplementation with S. jaoensis at doses of 0.5% and 1% resulted in increased weight and improved feed conversion ratio compared to the control group. At the end of treatment, chickens fed with 0.5% and 1% S. jaoensis weighed 428.3±47.8 g and 426.9±31.8 g, respectively, and were significantly heavier than the control group (373.1±44.1 g). Furthermore, parameters related to PM growth and small intestine morphology of chickens supplemented with 0.5% S. jaoensis in basal feed were improved compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

The results of this research indicate that S. jaoensis at a dose of 0.5% improves growth performance, PM growth, and small intestine morphology in broiler chickens.

Meeting Global Feed Protein Demand: Challenge, Opportunity, and Strategy

Feed protein supplements are one of the most expensive and limiting feed ingredients. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of how the expected expansion of animal production, driven by the rising world population and living standards for more animal-sourced foods, is creating a global shortage of feed protein supply. Because ruminants, chickens, and pigs contribute to 96% of the global supply of animal protein and aquaculture is growing fast, means of meeting the feed protein requirements of these species are elaborated. Geographic variation and interdependence among China, Europe, and North America in the demand and supply of feed protein are compared. The potential and current state of exploration into alternative feed proteins, including microalgae, insects, single-cell proteins, and coproducts, are highlighted. Strategic innovations are proposed to upgrade feed protein processing and assessment, improve protein digestion by exogenous enzymes, and genetically select feed-efficient livestock breeds. An overall successful and sustainable solution in meeting global feed protein demands will lead to a substantial net gain of human-edible animal protein with a minimal environmental footprint.

Combined effect of using near-infrared spectroscopy for nutritional evaluation of feed ingredients and non-starch polysaccharide carbohydrase complex on performance of broiler chickens

This study was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for nutritional evaluation of feed ingredients and the addition of non-starch polysaccharide carbohydrase complex (NSP enzymes) on the growth performance of broilers fed diets produced with low-quality wheat and soybean meal. A 2 × 2 trial design was performed, with seven replicates of 40 male Ross 308 broilers per treatment, evaluating the effect of the addition of NSP enzymes and the ingredients' nutritional matrix based on table values or NIRS values. Diets without added enzymes were formulated to reach nutritional requirements, whereas diets with enzymes were reformulated, reducing the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) by 85 kcal/kg. In the overall period (days 0-35), broilers fed diets formulated using NIRS values had higher (P < 0.001) average daily gain (+11.3%) and daily feed intake (+7.2%), and a lower (P < 0.001) feed conversion ratio (-5.3%) compared to those fed diets formulated using table values. When formulating diets for broilers with low-quality feed ingredients, performance can be improved by considering NIRS values and by the addition of NSP enzymes, even with a reduction of AME. These nutritional approaches are efficient in improving broilers' performances by themselves and even more so when they are combined.

Worldwide Mycotoxins Exposure in Pig and Poultry Feed Formulations

The purpose of this review is to present information about raw materials that can be used in pig and poultry diets and the factors responsible for variations in their mycotoxin contents. The levels of mycotoxins in pig and poultry feeds are calculated based on mycotoxin contamination levels of the raw materials with different diet formulations, to highlight the important role the stage of production and the raw materials used can have on mycotoxins levels in diets. Our analysis focuses on mycotoxins for which maximum tolerated levels or regulatory guidelines exist, and for which sufficient contamination data are available. Raw materials used in feed formulation vary considerably depending on the species of animal, and the stage of production. Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites whose frequency and levels also vary considerably depending on the raw materials used and on the geographic location where they were produced. Although several reviews of existing data and of the literature on worldwide mycotoxin contamination of food and feed are available, the impact of the different raw materials used on feed formulation has not been widely studied.