Influence of Enzyme Supplementation in the Diet on Egg Production, Egg Quality and Some Blood Constituents of Matrouh Hens

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two types of commercially available enzymes (Avizyme ® and Kemzyme ® ) on laying hens performance. A total of 200, forty weeks old, Matrouh laying hens were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups (5 replicate pens of 10 hens each).The first group received unsupplemented basal diet and served as a control group. The second and the third groups were fed basal diet supplemented with Avizyme ® or Kemzyme ® (1 g/kg diet of either) respectively. The fourth group was fed the basal diet supplemented with Avizyme ® plus Kemzyme ® (0.5 g/kg diet of each). The number of eggs produced every day for each group was recorded. Eggs were weighed twice weekly. Egg quality measurements were recorded every 10 days from the start of the experiment. Blood samples were obtained every month to determine calcium, phosphorus, total cholesterol, ALT and AST levels. The obtained results showed that hen-day egg production and total egg mass of the Avizyme ® and Kemzyme ® groups were not significantly different from the control group. However, when Avizyme ® and Kemzyme ® were added together, the hen-day egg production and egg mass were significantly higher than both the control and the Kemzyme ® groups. In all enzyme treated groups, relative shell weight and egg shell thickness were significantly higher than the control group. Relative albumen weight of the Avizyme ® group and the Avizyme ® plus Kemzyme ® group were not significantly different from the controls. The Kemzyme ® group has significantly (p≤0.05) lower relative albumen weight as compared to the controls. The yolk color scores of all enzyme treated groups were significantly higher than the control group. Plasma phosphorus concentrations of all treated groups were not significantly different from the _____________________________________ *Corresponding author: [email protected] M.A. Elmenawey, et al. 662 control group. When Avizyme ® and Kemzyme ® were added together, plasma total cholesterol concentration increased significantly (p≤0.05) over the control group. Also when Avizyme ® and Kemzyme ® were added together plasma ALT concentration was significantly lower than the control group. On the other hand Avizyme ® supplementation significantly (p≤0.01) decreased plasma AST concentration compared to the control group.