The Effect of Xylanase and Phytase Supplementation Alone or in Combination in a Wheat-based Diet on Intestinal Morphology and Blood Profile in Broilers

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation of xylanase and phytase individually or in combination on the intestinal morphology and blood metabolites of broiler chickens fed a stored wheat-based diet. For this purpose, a total of 640, day-old broiler chicks were used with 8 replicates per treatment and 10 birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. Wheat was used as a major energy ingredient, therefore, was designated as a 100% replacement of corn with wheat in the experimental treatments which was 57.52 kg/100 kg feed. Eight isocaloric and isonitrogenous basal diets were prepared based on 1.5-year and 2.5-year-old stored wheat and diets were supplemented with or without exogenous enzymes. Exogenous enzymes supplemented diets were either supplemented with phytase 500FTU or xylanase 500XU alone or in combination. At the end of the trial, the blood metabolites were measured as well as intestinal morphology was evaluated through routine histological examinations. The results showed that combined supplementation of xylanase and phytase in diets T4 and T8 significantly lowered the blood cholesterol, and blood urea nitrogen (P<0.05) as compared to treatments without enzymes or supplemented with xylanase or phytase alone. Low blood glucose was observed in the T1 diet (P<0.05). Better villus height was observed in birds fed with T4 and T8 diets (P<0.05). A decrease in villus height and villus surface area was observed in birds-fed diets without the supplementation of xylanase and phytase enzymes (P<0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of xylanase and phytase in combination in wheat-based diets in broilers improves intestinal morphology and blood metabolites.