Enzymes and Barley Metabolizable Energy

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Abstract
Metabolizable energy of a high and low β-glucan barley was determined either unsupplemented or with the addition of one of five commercial β-glucanase enzymes. The assay involved adult roosters. Addition of enzyme to a high β-glucan barley always resulted in numerical improvement in ME, although only with two enzymes was the difference significant (P < .05). Adding enzymes to the low β-glucan barley resulted in a depression in ME, with this effect significant (P < .05) with four supplemental enzymes. All roosters fed low β-glucan barley with supplemental enzyme showed an uncharacteristic low nitrogen balance, with three groups in negative balance.