Influence of Trichoderma viride enzyme complex on nutrient utilization and performance of laying hens in diets with and without antibiotic supplementation.

The experiment was designed to test possible interactions of an enzyme complex (product from Trichoderma viride) and a feed antibiotic (flavophospholipol) in a barley diet on metabolism variables and egg production performance of Warren Brown laying hens. The basal diet contained 40% winter barley (French cultivar "Express", six row). The four treatments were as follows: O, control (without supplement); E, enzyme complex, 600 ppm; A, flavophospholipol, 10 ppm; EA, enzyme complex, 600 ppm and flavophospholipol, 10 ppm. The enzyme complex contained the following main activities: cellulase (10,500 U/g), endo-beta-(1:3)(1:4)-glucanase (24,000 U/g), and xylanase (32,000 U/g). The enzyme positively influenced AME content of the feed, organic matter (OM) utilization, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradability (P < or = 0.01). When supplemented alone, the antibiotic had no influence on energy and nutrient utilization. No significant differences in egg production due to dietary treatments were observed. A significant enzyme by antibiotic interaction for AME (P < or = 0.01) and OM utilization (P < or = 0.001) as well as NDF degradability (P < or = 0.01) indicated a reduced enzyme effect in the diet containing antibiotic. Negative enzyme by antibiotic interaction for energy utilization in laying hens suggested that the positive response to dietary enzyme supplementation in the mature laying hen (Treatment O vs E) was to great extent mediated by the activity of intestinal microbes.