Effects of enzyme complex on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in pigs weaned at 14 days of age

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of supplemented enzyme complex on growth performance and nutrient digestibility in pigs weaned at 14 days of age. Eighty pigs (4.02+/-0.11 kg of average body weight) were allotted in a completely randomized block design. Treatments were as follows: 1) control (negative), 2) control (positive, Kemzyme(R), 3) 0.1%, 4) 0.2% and 5) 0.3% of newly developed enzyme complex. Each treatment has 4 replicates with 4 pigs per replicate. During phase I period (d 0 to 14), ADG and ADFI were numerically higher in pigs fed diets supplemented enzyme complex regardless of their inclusion levels compared to pigs fed control (negative) diet. Feed/gain (F/G) was also better in pigs fed enzyme complex diet than that of pigs fed control (negative) diet. In addition, with increasing the inclusion level of enzyme complex, ADG and ADFI were improved. However, there was no significant difference between treatment in all growth parameters. During phase II period (d 15 to 28), ADG, ADFI and F/G showed the same tendency as in phase I period. For overall period (d 0 to 28) ADG was highest in pigs fed diet included 0.2% enzyme complex in all treatments but not significantly different. During phase I period, the digestibilities of all nutrients did not showed any significant difference between treatments. However, pigs fed diet contained enzyme complex and positive control diet (Kemzyme) showed numerically higher nutrient digestibilities in all nutrients than pigs fed negative control diet. During phase TI period, data were consistent with those observed in phase I period. Especially, the digestibility of phosphorus was significantly higher in pigs fed diets contained enzyme complex including phytase than pigs fed control (negative and positive) diets (p<0.05). For overall experimental period, fecal or ileal amino acid digestibility were not affected by dietary treatment. Enzyme complex newly developed and used in this study can be possibly recommended as a growth promoter when supplemented in diet for early weaned piglets.