Evaluation of dietary Pancreatin as an exogenous enzyme on growth performance, gene expression, immunological responses, serum immunoglobins, and intestinal morphology in cockerels

Abstract

The current study evaluated the inclusion of Pancreatin enzyme on growth performance, intestinal morphology, endogenous enzyme activity, and immunological responses in cockerels. A total of 480 d-old-Hy-line cockerels were randomly divided into 5 treatments, with 6 replicates, 16 birds per cage. Birds were given a standard corn-soybean-based (CD) starter and grower diet. Exogenous Pancreatin enzyme was supplemented at 0: 250; 500; 750, and 1000 mg/kg. Results demonstrated that Pancreatin supplementation did not affect (P > 0.05) the growth performance and duodenal enzyme activity of birds. However, the addition of Pancreatin enzyme at 500 mg/kg increased (P < 0.05) jejunal villus height at 42 d; duodenal crypt depth and jejunal crypt depth at 70 d. Pancreatin supplementation except 1000 mg/kg increased (P < 0.05) serum IgM but not IgA and IgG. Furthermore, Pancreatin supplementation had the potential to decrease jejunal pH, spleen gene expression, and antibodies titers against NDV. In conclusion, Pancreatin enzyme inclusion had no effect on cockerels’ growth performance despite the variation found on the gut morphology. Pancreatin enzyme at intermediary amounts (500 and 750 mg/kg) showed a satisfactory serum immunoglobulin result but had the potential to modulate differently on the antibody titers against NDV and gene expression.