Effects of partial soybean meal replacement with sunflower meal and non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes supplementation on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphology

Background and Aim: Soybean meal (SBM) is the primary protein source in broiler diets; however, its high cost and import dependency necessitate alternative protein sources. Sunflower meal (SFM) is a viable alternative but contains high fiber and non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), which can impair nu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zeeshan Munawar, Saad Amjid, Faisal Ramzan, Azhar Rafique, Safdar Hassan, Urooj Anwar, Momna Mehmood, Umar Farooq, Muhammad Farooq Khalid, Riaz Mustafa, Muhammad Riaz, Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman, Waseem Abbas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Veterinary World 2025-03-01
Series:Veterinary World
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/March-2025/16.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849738090528112640
author Zeeshan Munawar
Saad Amjid
Faisal Ramzan
Azhar Rafique
Safdar Hassan
Urooj Anwar
Momna Mehmood
Umar Farooq
Muhammad Farooq Khalid
Riaz Mustafa
Muhammad Riaz
Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman
Waseem Abbas
author_facet Zeeshan Munawar
Saad Amjid
Faisal Ramzan
Azhar Rafique
Safdar Hassan
Urooj Anwar
Momna Mehmood
Umar Farooq
Muhammad Farooq Khalid
Riaz Mustafa
Muhammad Riaz
Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman
Waseem Abbas
author_sort Zeeshan Munawar
collection DOAJ
description Background and Aim: Soybean meal (SBM) is the primary protein source in broiler diets; however, its high cost and import dependency necessitate alternative protein sources. Sunflower meal (SFM) is a viable alternative but contains high fiber and non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), which can impair nutrient utilization. This study evaluated the effects of partially replacing SBM with SFM, with or without NSP degrading enzymes (NSPase) enzyme supplementation, on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digesta viscosity, and gut morphology in broilers. Materials and Methods: A total of 588 day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments following a 3 × 2 factorial design, with three levels of SBM replacement (0%, 10%, and 20% SFM) and two levels of NSPase supplementation (0 or 100 g/ton feed). Diets were formulated for the starter (1–10 days), grower (11–21 days), and finisher (22–35 days) phases. Growth performance (body weight gain [BWG], feed intake [FI], feed conversion ratio [FCR]), nutrient digestibility (dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and crude fiber [CF]), digesta viscosity, and gut morphology (villus height [VH], crypt depth [CD], villus width, and villus-to-crypt ratio) were assessed. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s test for mean comparisons (p < 0.05). Results: Replacing SBM with up to 20% SFM did not significantly impact BWG (p > 0.05), FI (p > 0.05), or FCR (p > 0.05). However, digesta viscosity increased significantly with higher SFM levels (p < 0.001), while NSPase supplementation reduced viscosity (p < 0.001). CF digestibility was lower with increasing SFM levels (p < 0.01) but improved with NSPase addition (p < 0.01). Gut morphology parameters, including VH and CD, were negatively affected by higher SFM inclusion but showed improvement with NSPase supplementation. Conclusion: SBM can be partially replaced with up to 20% SFM in broiler diets without compromising growth performance. However, increasing SFM levels can reduce CF digestibility and increase digesta viscosity. The addition of NSPase enzymes mitigates these adverse effects by enhancing fiber digestibility and reducing gut viscosity. These findings support the use of SFM as an economically viable protein alternative in broiler feed formulations, particularly in SBM-importing regions.
format Article
id doaj-art-783a1dac46b1467e94ee85e16dbb9476
institution DOAJ
issn 0972-8988
2231-0916
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Veterinary World
record_format Article
series Veterinary World
spelling doaj-art-783a1dac46b1467e94ee85e16dbb94762025-08-20T03:06:43ZengVeterinary WorldVeterinary World0972-89882231-09162025-03-0118369570410.14202/vetworld.2025.695-704Effects of partial soybean meal replacement with sunflower meal and non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes supplementation on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphologyZeeshan Munawar0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8304-4934Saad Amjid1https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3453-2262Faisal Ramzan2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6637-1854Azhar Rafique3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8147-8820Safdar Hassan4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2584-2285Urooj Anwar5https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9912-8114Momna Mehmood6https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0218-8089Umar Farooq7https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1575-9979Muhammad Farooq Khalid8https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1601-3642Riaz Mustafa9https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6538-0583Muhammad Riaz10https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0622-4027Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman11https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6894-1128Waseem Abbas12https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3078-4315Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan.Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Department of Animal and Dairy Science Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, 66000, Pakistan.Sub Campus, Toba Tek Sing, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 36050, Pakistan.Sub Campus, Toba Tek Sing, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 36050, Pakistan.Sub Campus, Toba Tek Sing, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 36050, Pakistan.Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Institute of Animal and Dairy Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.Background and Aim: Soybean meal (SBM) is the primary protein source in broiler diets; however, its high cost and import dependency necessitate alternative protein sources. Sunflower meal (SFM) is a viable alternative but contains high fiber and non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs), which can impair nutrient utilization. This study evaluated the effects of partially replacing SBM with SFM, with or without NSP degrading enzymes (NSPase) enzyme supplementation, on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, digesta viscosity, and gut morphology in broilers. Materials and Methods: A total of 588 day-old Ross-308 broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments following a 3 × 2 factorial design, with three levels of SBM replacement (0%, 10%, and 20% SFM) and two levels of NSPase supplementation (0 or 100 g/ton feed). Diets were formulated for the starter (1–10 days), grower (11–21 days), and finisher (22–35 days) phases. Growth performance (body weight gain [BWG], feed intake [FI], feed conversion ratio [FCR]), nutrient digestibility (dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, and crude fiber [CF]), digesta viscosity, and gut morphology (villus height [VH], crypt depth [CD], villus width, and villus-to-crypt ratio) were assessed. Statistical analysis was conducted using two-way analysis of variance with Tukey’s test for mean comparisons (p < 0.05). Results: Replacing SBM with up to 20% SFM did not significantly impact BWG (p > 0.05), FI (p > 0.05), or FCR (p > 0.05). However, digesta viscosity increased significantly with higher SFM levels (p < 0.001), while NSPase supplementation reduced viscosity (p < 0.001). CF digestibility was lower with increasing SFM levels (p < 0.01) but improved with NSPase addition (p < 0.01). Gut morphology parameters, including VH and CD, were negatively affected by higher SFM inclusion but showed improvement with NSPase supplementation. Conclusion: SBM can be partially replaced with up to 20% SFM in broiler diets without compromising growth performance. However, increasing SFM levels can reduce CF digestibility and increase digesta viscosity. The addition of NSPase enzymes mitigates these adverse effects by enhancing fiber digestibility and reducing gut viscosity. These findings support the use of SFM as an economically viable protein alternative in broiler feed formulations, particularly in SBM-importing regions.https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/March-2025/16.pdfbroiler nutritionfeed efficiencygut morphologynon-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymesnutrient digestibilitysoybean meal replacementsunflower meal
spellingShingle Zeeshan Munawar
Saad Amjid
Faisal Ramzan
Azhar Rafique
Safdar Hassan
Urooj Anwar
Momna Mehmood
Umar Farooq
Muhammad Farooq Khalid
Riaz Mustafa
Muhammad Riaz
Muhammad Aziz ur Rahman
Waseem Abbas
Effects of partial soybean meal replacement with sunflower meal and non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes supplementation on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphology
Veterinary World
broiler nutrition
feed efficiency
gut morphology
non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes
nutrient digestibility
soybean meal replacement
sunflower meal
title Effects of partial soybean meal replacement with sunflower meal and non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes supplementation on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphology
title_full Effects of partial soybean meal replacement with sunflower meal and non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes supplementation on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphology
title_fullStr Effects of partial soybean meal replacement with sunflower meal and non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes supplementation on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphology
title_full_unstemmed Effects of partial soybean meal replacement with sunflower meal and non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes supplementation on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphology
title_short Effects of partial soybean meal replacement with sunflower meal and non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes supplementation on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphology
title_sort effects of partial soybean meal replacement with sunflower meal and non starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes supplementation on broiler growth performance nutrient digestibility and gut morphology
topic broiler nutrition
feed efficiency
gut morphology
non-starch polysaccharide degrading enzymes
nutrient digestibility
soybean meal replacement
sunflower meal
url https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/March-2025/16.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT zeeshanmunawar effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT saadamjid effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT faisalramzan effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT azharrafique effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT safdarhassan effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT uroojanwar effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT momnamehmood effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT umarfarooq effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT muhammadfarooqkhalid effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT riazmustafa effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT muhammadriaz effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT muhammadazizurrahman effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology
AT waseemabbas effectsofpartialsoybeanmealreplacementwithsunflowermealandnonstarchpolysaccharidedegradingenzymessupplementationonbroilergrowthperformancenutrientdigestibilityandgutmorphology