The aim of B. Sc. Thesis is to review the existing literature on the use of feed enzymes in pig nutrition and to evaluate whether their use is efficient and therefore justified. Swine diets are mainly composed of plant-based materials which contain certain undigestible substances that represent economic losses as well as a burden for the environment. By using enzymes as feed additives certain improvements in feed digestibility, intake, and efficiency as well as growth rate and overall health can be expected. Exogenous enzymes such as xylanase, beta-glucanase, mannanase, alfa-galactosidase, cellulase and phytase are more commonly added to swine diets than endogenous enzymes such as protease. The latter are used to improve feed digestibility, daily gain, and health of weaned pigs as they experience digestive disorders due to underdeveloped digestive system and weaning stress. Viscosity problems and so-called cage effect caused by antinutritive factors of non-starch polysaccharides can be eliminated by using various carbohydrases and ameliorate feed digestibility accordingly. However, the effects of enzyme supplementation varies greatly between studies, where the use of phytase has produced the most consistent results and has had the greatest number of studies conducted. Therefore its mechanism of action has been thoroughly researched and has been proven to have beneficial effects. For all these reasons, the use of enzymes in pig nutrition can have positive effects on animal health, cost efficiency of production and the environment by improving the efficiency of nutrient utilization and reducing nutrient losses.
|
