Effects of commercial enzymes on wet droppings in four strains of layers fed a barley diet

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to examine the effect of four commercial enzyme products on wet droppings and egg production in four strains of birds (Isa, Hyline CB, Tegel SB2, Tegel HiSex) fed a barley-based diet. Average total egg production was 89.8% and was not affected by any of the treatments. The enzymes markedly (P<0.01) reduced feed consumption. The CB birds consumed significantly (P<0.01) less feed than all the others. The percentage of non-saleable egg production was 8.9% of the total and was affected (P<0.01) by diet, but not by breed. The percentage of dirty eggs averaged 2.4% and was not affected by diet or breed. But broken eggs made up 6.5% of the total production and diet significantly (P<0.01) influenced it and breed of birds tended to have an effect (P=0.053) as well. There was also a significant (P<0.01) diet x breed interaction with responses of enzymes in broken egg percentage differing between breeds of birds. The excreta moisture content differed widely (P<0.01) due to both diet and breed. Thus, birds fed the control diet and HiSex birds in general had the wettest excreta among the five diets and four strains tested. The excreta from birds fed this diet also appeared very moist and runny. There was a significant (P<0.01) diet x breed interaction on this parameter as well with some breeds of birds responding differently depending on the enzyme source.