Effect of dietary supplementation of compound enzymes on endogenous digestive enzymes in cherry valley ducks fed miscellaneous meal diet

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of compound enzymes on the endogenous digestive enzymes activity in cherry valley ducks fed miscellaneous meal diet. the compound enzymes consist of xylanase (10000 u/g),mannanase (18000 u/g) and glucanase (3000 u/g). one hundred and seventy-six 1-day-old healthy ducklings were randomly divided in a control and treatment group with four replicates of 22 birds each. the dietary treatments consisted the basal diet (control group) and 100 mg/kg diet of compound enzymes supplemented to the basal diet (treatment group). the levels of protease and trypsinase,amylopsin and pancrelipase were determined during starter period (7,14 and 21 d) and growing period (28 and 42 d). the results showed that protease levels were initially increased and reached at peak level on day 21st,and then gradually decreased with age. the protease level of enzyme supplemented group was higher during starter period,but significantly lowered at growing period as compared to control group. the peak level of amylopsin activity was recorded in enzyme supplemented ducks at starter period and in control group ducks at growing period. pancrelipase activity of enzyme supplemented ducks was initially higher but later comparatively lower than control group. interestingly,only the trypsinase level of enzyme-supplemented ducks was significantly higher during growing period compared to control group. the obtained results suggested that dietary supplementation of compound enzymes stimulate some endogenous digestive enzymes at starter period,in cherry valley ducks fed miscellaneous meal diet. copyright © 2012 zoological society of pakistan.