AI Insight
This study investigated how pelleting and β-mannanase enzyme supplementation affect nutrient digestibility and metabolizable energy of four alternative poultry feed ingredients (DDGS, copra meal, palm kernel meal, and jatropha meal) using precision-fed Single Comb White Leghorn roosters. Pelleting at controlled temperatures improved dry matter digestibility, nitrogen retention, and metabolizable energy values across all ingredients, with the strongest effects in DDGS and jatropha meal. β-mannanase supplementation enhanced nutrient and energy utilization particularly in copra meal and palm kernel meal, which contain high levels of β-mannan non-starch polysaccharides.
Why it matters
These findings provide practical strategies for improving the nutritional value of alternative feed ingredients in poultry diets, potentially reducing reliance on conventional feedstuffs like corn and soybean meal. The results offer poultry producers evidence-based methods to enhance feed efficiency and reduce costs when incorporating fibrous byproduct ingredients into commercial feeds.
Understand the Science
by Bounmy Keohavong, Musabbir Ahammed, Jong Suh Shin, Lohakare Jayant, Sang Jip Ohh
This study evaluated the effects of pelleting and β-mannanase supplementation on nutrient digestibility and metabolizable energy of four alternative feed ingredients distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), copra meal, palm kernel meal (PKM), and jatropha meal (JM) using precision-fed Single Comb White Leghorn roosters. Two independent precision-fed rooster assays were conducted. In Experiment 1, each ingredient was offered in mash form or as pellets produced under controlled conditions (<65 °C) to minimize heat-induced nutrient damage. In Experiment 2, mash samples were supplemented with β-mannanase (0.25% as-fed basis). Apparent dry matter digestibility, nitrogen retention, and metabolizable energy values, including apparent metabolizable energy (AME), nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn), true metabolizable energy (TME), and nitrogen-corrected TME (TMEn), were determined. Pelleting improved dry matter digestibility, nitrogen retention, and all metabolizable energy parameters across ingredients (p < 0.05), with more pronounced responses observed in DDGS and jatropha meal. β-mannanase supplementation also enhanced nutrient utilization and energy utilization, particularly in copra meal and palm kernel meal, which are rich in β-mannan-containing non-starch polysaccharides. Overall, the results demonstrate that both pelleting and β-mannanase supplementation can improve the nutritional value of fibrous alternative feed ingredients, thereby supporting their more efficient use in poultry diets.