Effect of arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides and arabinoxylans on net energy and nutrient utilization in broilers

Arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides(AXOS) are hydrolytic degradation products of arabinoxylans(AX) that can be fermented by the gut microbiota, thus potentially displaying prebiotic properties. This study examined the effects of AX and AXOS on net energy(NE) and nutrient utilization in broilers. Ross 308 broilers(n = 90, 30 birds per treatment) were fed wheat-soybean diets supplemented with pure AX, AXOS produced by exposing the AX to xylanase in vitro(AXOS), or AX with xylanase(AX + E) from d 10 to 21.Performance parameters were measured from d 10 to 21. On d 15, 10 birds per treatment were allocated to closed-circuit net energy chambers to assess the impact of AX and AXOS on dietary energy utilization,through assessment of both metabolisable energy(ME) and NE. Ileal and caecal digesta samples were collected on d 21 to determine the effect of AX and AXOS on ileal and total tract dry matter digestibility,ileal digestible energy, digesta pH, short chain fatty acids(SCFA) and microbiota concentration. Feed conversion ratio was numerically the lowest in birds fed the diet supplemented with AXOS, which is 1.26 compared to 1.37 and 1.30 for AX and AX + E, respectively. Ileal dry matter digestibility was higher in birds fed AXOS than those fed AX(P = 0.047). Ileal digestible energy and total tract dry matter digestibility were higher in birds fed AXOS than those fed AX or AX + E(P = 0.004 and P = 0.001,respectively). Birds fed AXOS had higher ME intake(P = 0.049) and nitrogen retention(P = 0.001) and a strong trend of higher NE(P = 0.056), NE intake(P = 0.057) and retained energy(P = 0.054) compared to those fed AX. Ileal total SCFA, lactic and formic acid concentrations were higher in birds fed AXOS than those fed AX(P = 0.011, P = 0.012 and P = 0.023, respectively). Birds fed AXOS or AX + E had higher caecal total SCFA, acetic, butyric and isovaleric acid concentrations compared to those fed AX(P = 0.001,P = 0.004, P = 0.016 and P = 0.008, respectively), and caecal propionic acid concentration was higher in birds fed AX + E than those fed AX(P = 0.050). Ileal and caecal microbiota concentrations were numerically higher and pH was lower in birds fed AXOS and AX + E than those fed AX. Results from this study indicate that feeding AXOS directly is more efficient than AXOS generation in the gastrointestinal tract, and suggest that AXOS has a potential to be an efficacious prebiotic in broiler diets.

Improving sorghum digestion in broilers by targeting fermentation of xylan

This study was to examine if it is possible to accelerate sorghum digestion in broiler chickens by targeting fermentation of the xylan.Cobb 500 broilers(n=960,80 birds per treatment)were fed 12 sorghumsoybean meal-based dietary treatments fed as 3 phases(starter d 0 to 12,grower d 13 to 23,finisher d 24 to 35),with 8 replicate pens of 10 birds per treatment.For half of the treatments(n=6),10%of the sorghum in the diet was directly replaced with 10%wheat bran,as a source of fermentable fibre.The diets were supplemented with either 0,50 or 2,000 mg/kg xylo-oligosaccharides(XOS),with or without xylanase application.Body weight gain(BWG),feed intake(FI)and feed conversion corrected for mortality(cFCR)was determined at d 0 to 35,and male and female body weight were measured on d 35.On d 35,ileum and caeca samples were collected from 2 birds per pen,for determination of caecal cellulase and xylanase activity,microbiota composition and short chain fatty acid(SCFA)concentration,and ileal XOS concentration.Supplementation with 2,000 mg/kg XOS caused increased BWG at d 0 to 35(P=0.007)and enhanced caecal propionic,valeric and succinic acid concentration(P<0.05).Wheat bran increased FI(P=0.018)and BWG(P=0.016),as well as caecal Bifidobacteria concentration(P<0.001).Ileal XOS concentration was greatest when feeding combined wheat bran,2,000 mg/kg XOS,and xylanase,resulting in increased caecal total SCFA,acetic acid and butyric acid concentration,and xylanase and cellulase activity(P<0.05).Results from this study present that feed efficiency in birds fed sorghum-based diets is improved as a consequence of supplementing with fermentable fibre,xylanase and XOS.