Effect of various level of treated barley on small intestinal content viscosity, litter moisture, uric acid and broiler chickens performance

Barley is one of the energy sources for broiler chicken nutrition but the presence of non Starch Polysaccharide (NSP), particularly high viscosity β-glucan, can decrease nutrient digestibility. Eight hundred day-old unsexed Arbor Acres chickens were allocated to one of four replicates of the 8 treatments employed at 10 days of age following feeding of a common pre-starter diet. Experimental design was 4(×) 2 factorial arrangement with four levels barley (0, 10, 20 and 30%), and 2 levels Grind enzyme (0, 0.5 kg/ton). Viscosity for 30% barley at 21 and 42 days of age were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Viscosity was decreased by enzyme inclusion at 42 days of age. Increased litter moisture (44.98%) was observed by 30% barley in comparison to other treatments; in contrast, this parameter was significantly reduced by enzyme supplementation. Similar trend was observed in litter uric acid. Bird's growth rate was significantly lower in 30% barley at 21 and 42 d of age. The inclusion of 0.5 kg/ton enzyme in the chicken’s diet resulted in a significant increase in the growth rate at 10-21 days of age. Feed to gain ratio of birds fed 30% barley diet was inferior than birds fed other treatments during experiment.