Evaluation of Enzyme (Maxigrain®) Treatment of Graded Levels of Palm Kernel Meal (PKM) on Nutrient Retention

Abstract

A nutrient retention trial was conducted over a twenty four day period. Eighty one day old chicks of Arbor acres strain were randomly allotted to nine isonitrogeneous dietary treatments where PKM was included in the diet at 0,10,20,30 and 40% levels and PKM treated with Maxigrain® at 10, 20, 30, and 40% levels with three replicates and three birds each in metallic cages. Results show that there was significant (P<0.001) difference in protein, fat, NFE and metabolizable energy retention which were higher in the control and Maxigrain® treated diets compared with the corresponding diets without Maxigrain®. The crude fibre retention was significant (P<0.05) lower in the control compared treatments. The crude fibre retention values at 20 and 30% PKM diets with Maxigrain® were significantly (P<0.05) lower than values for 20 and 30% PKM diets without Maxigrain®. The results indicates that enzyme treatment of PKM increased the retention of vital nutrients and metabolizable energy.