Effect of -Glucosidase as a Feed Supplementary on the Growth Performance, Digestive Enzymes and Physiology of Broilers

The effects of ${\beta}$-glucosidase on the overall growth performance and a set of physiological parameters of broilers were investigated. 240 male, one-day old Avine broiler chickswere randomly allocated to four treatment groups and fed with a corn-soybean meal supplemented with 0% (control), 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6% ${\beta}$-glucosidase. The 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase group, but not the 0.4% and 0.6% ${\beta}$-glucosidase groups, showed a significantly increased average daily weight gain (p<0.05) over that of the control. All three ${\beta}$-glucosidase feed groups showed significantly higher feed conversion ratios than the control group (p<0.05). Feed supplementation of 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase significantly raised the contents of serum isoflavone aglycones as shown by decreases of genistin and daizin (p<0.01) and an increase of daidzein (p<0.01). The 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase feeding significantly increased the intestinal amylase activity while it had little effect on lipase and trypsin activities (p>0.05). 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase feeding also significant elevated the levels of highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol and malate dehydrogenase while lowering the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Finally, ${\beta}$-glucosidase improved the anti-oxidative activities of the animals; the 0.2% ${\beta}$-glucosidase feed group had higher activities of superoxide dismutase (p<0.05), glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in the liver (p<0.05), and malondialdehyde level in the serum (p<0.05).