ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE May 2024 45 “Muramidase has a positive effect on gut functionality, leading to higher nutrient digestibility and absorption and in the end shows to contribute to highly efficient birds with optimal body weight and higher meat yields. These highly efficient broilers contribute to reduction of two major global issues the poultry industry is facing…” Optimizing performance and maintaining gastrointestinal functionality are crucial for success in broiler production. Optimal performing, healthy broilers contribute most to the global growing protein demand and a reduction of antimicrobial resistance. The use of muramidase in broiler feed is a new promising solution to support gut functionality, thereby improving broiler performance and meat yield. In this article we will explain the benefits and mode of action of muramidase and its impact on broiler growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and meat yield. THE ROLE OF MURAMIDASE IN GUT FUNCTIONALITY As defined by Pietro Celi in Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2017, an optimal gastrointestinal functionality is ‘a steady state where the microbiome and the intestinal tract (host) exist in symbiotic equilibrium and where the welfare and performance of the animal is not constrained by intestinal dysfunction’. Muramidase contributes to an optimal gastrointestinal functionality by breaking down bacterial cell debris. Peptidoglycans (PGNs) form the structural base of bacterial cell walls. After cell death or division, PGNs are left behind in the lumen of the intestinal tract and can hinder nutrient absorption and optimal gut function. By breaking down PGNs, muramidase contributes to better nutrient digestion, -absorption and -partitioning in the body. This can be seen by birds having a higher body weight gain, a better FCR and higher meat yield. MURAMIDASE IMPROVES NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY, MEAT YIELD AND WELFARE IN BROILERS Several studies have shown that broilers supplemented with muramidase have a higher nutrient digestibility and absorption. Sais et al., 2019 showed 7% higher apparent ileal energy digestibility (P<0.05) and 4% higher apparent ileal crude protein digestibility (P=0.09) at day 35 of age. The improvement of crude protein digestibility was confirmed by Goodarzi et al., 2019 who saw 6.5% higher apparent ileal crude protein digestibility (P=0.001) and a higher apparent ileal fat digestibility (ether extract) of 2% (P=0.002) at day 35 of age. Goes et al., 2022 also saw a higher fat apparent ileal digestibility of 16% (P=0.01). Sais et al, also found a higher nutrient absorption on day 9 of broiler age. The birds fed with muramidase had 18% higher amounts of vitamin A in their plasma (P=0.04). At the same age, the birds also had a signifiMURAMIDASE: ENHANCING BROILER PERFORMANCE AND MEAT YIELD Irene Eising Poultry Gut Health Team EMEA dsm-firmenich ANH
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