Abstract
Muramidase is an enzyme that hydrolyzes peptidoglycans of bacterial cell walls and improves performance of broilers in a dose-dependent manner. An experiment was conducted to evaluate muramidase supplementation, at a high or step-down dose, in turkeys from hatch to market. Male, B.U.T. 6 turkey poults were placed in 24 floor pens at 32 birds per pen. Poults were fed 1 of 3 diets from d 1 to 126 of age. There were 8 replicate pens per treatment. The treatments were a control (CTL) diet, the CTL plus muramidase at 45,000 LSU(F)/kg from phase 1 to 6 (BAL45), and the CTL plus muramidase at 45,000 LSU(F)/kg from phase 1 to 3 and decreased to 25,000 LSU(F)/kg from phase 4 to 6 (BAL45-25). Data were analyzed using SAS. The model included treatment and block and means were separated by Fisher LSD test. Birds fed BAL45 were heavier (P < 0.05) and had a greater (P < 0.05) average daily gain compared with birds fed the CTL from hatch to d 126 of age. Birds fed BAL45-25 had a final BW and average daily gain intermediate to or equivalent to birds fed BAL45 at the same phases. Feed conversion ratio was improved (P < 0.05) in birds fed BAL45 compared with birds fed the CTL and intermediate in birds fed BAL45-25. Breast meat yield was greater (P < 0.05) in turkeys fed muramidase, regardless of dose, compared with birds fed the CTL. There was no effect of treatment on muramic acid content in the jejunum digesta or litter scores. The frequency of pododermatitis score 1 was greater (P < 0.05) and score 2 was lower (P < 0.05) in birds fed muramidase, regardless of dose, compared with birds fed the CTL diet. In conclusion, muramidase supplementation improved performance, breast meat yield, feed efficiency and some markers of welfare, proportional to the dose in the diets.