Performance Responses of Broilers and Pigs Fed Diets with Β-Mannanase

This study was developed using meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of beta-mannanase on both poultry and pig performance. Two databases were constructed using information from previous studies that evaluated the beta-mannanase supplementation in diets for broilers (30 papers; 19,643 birds) and pigs (20 papers; 5,319 animals). The meta-analysis followed three sequential analyses: graphical, correlation, and variance-covariance. The effect of beta-mannanase supplementation on performance considerably varied in both databases. Data analysis considering the study effect showed that beta-mannanase supplementation did not influence feed intake. Diets supplemented with beta-mannanase did not influence weight gain, but improved feed conversion (-1%) of broilers compared with the control group. Feeding pigs diets supplemented with beta-mannanase improved weight gain (+5%) and feed conversion (-6%) compared with pigs fed non-supplemented diets. beta-mannanase supplementation increased the digestibility coefficient of dry matter, crude protein, and energy in both species. The inclusion of beta-mannanase also improved the metabolizable energy content in broiler diets and enhanced the digestibility of energy in pig feeds. Current results indicate that beta-mannanase can be considered as an important tool for nutritionists who search for improved feed conversions and nutrient digestibility coefficients.