Response of Broiler Chickens to Triticale-Based Diets Supplemented with Microbial Enzymes (2. Microbial Profiles and Activities)

The microbial profiles and activities of microbes in the digesta from chickens on diets containing Bogong or Canobolas with or without inclusion of microbial enzymes were investigated on the 384 day-old male Ross 308 broiler chickens. There was a reduction in population of C. perfringens (P < 0.01) of the ileum as a result of interaction between cultivar and xylanase. On the other hand, in the ceca, the population of entero bacteria were reduced (P < 0.01) by the interaction between grain and phytase, as well as the interaction between grain, xylanase and phytase. Also, the inclusion of xylanase reduced the population of C. perfringensin the ceca. The cecal concentration of acetic acid (P < 0.05) and butyric plus isobutyric acid (P <0.01) was increased in birds received Bogong and Canobolas diets.  Supplementation of xylanase in Bogong diets increased (grain x xylanase, P< 0.05) the acetic acid and lactic acid concentration in ceca while the reversed was the case for Canobolas diets. The ileal and cecal pH was not affected by grain, the inclusion of xylanase and phytase or interactions between these factors. It can be concluded that diets containing Bogong or Canobolas diets supplemented with phytase and xylanase influenced the microbial profile and their activities in gastrointestinal tract which may be due to the variation in nutrient content of these two cultivars.