Modern chicken production depends heavily on efficient digestion. However, non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) present in wheat, barley, soybean meal, and other feed ingredients often interfere with nutrient absorption. These anti-nutritional factors increase intestinal viscosity, trap nutrients, and create gut imbalance — directly impacting feed conversion and profitability.

Improving chicken gut health through targeted NSP enzyme supplementation is no longer optional. It is essential for maximizing growth, uniformity, and return on feed investment.

 

The Hidden Challenge: How NSPs Disrupt Chicken Gut Health

NSPs such as arabinoxylans, beta-glucans, pectins, celluloses, and mannans are naturally present in plant-based feed ingredients. Chickens lack sufficient endogenous enzymes to break these compounds down effectively.

When NSPs remain undigested, they can:

• Increase intestinal viscosity
• Reduce nutrient digestibility
• Limit energy release
• Promote harmful bacterial proliferation
• Reduce weight gain and worsen FCR

High-viscosity digesta slows nutrient absorption and creates an ideal environment for pathogens. Even a small reduction in digestibility can translate into measurable financial losses, especially when feed accounts for nearly 70% of total production costs.

This is where ABTL’s targeted NSP enzyme solutions play a transformative role.

 

ABTL’s Targeted NSP Enzyme Solutions for Chicken Gut Optimization

ABTL offers a scientifically formulated range of NSP enzymes in poultry are designed to address specific fiber fractions in poultry diets. Instead of a generic approach, each product targets a particular anti-nutritional component.

 

BG-XYLAN™

BG-XYLAN™ is an endo-1,4-β-xylanase designed to degrade arabinoxylans present in cereal grains and by-products.

Mechanism:

• Breaks down soluble and insoluble arabinoxylans.
• Reduces digesta viscosity.
• Releases entrapped nutrients from grain cell walls.
• Improves passage rate and nutrient absorption.

Performance Impact:

• Improves FCR and body weight gain.
• Reduces excessive intestinal secretions.
• Improves litter quality and faecal consistency.
• Supports consistent flock uniformity.

 

BG-XYLAN HT

It is a microgranulated xylanase developed from Trichoderma citrinoviride with superior thermostability up to 90°C.

Key Functional Attributes:

• Maintains higher enzyme activity post-pelletization.
• Reduces digesta viscosity.
• Improves nutrient release from grain cell walls.
• Minimizes negative impact of NSPs across multiple feed ingredients.

Additional Effects:

• Produces prebiotic xylo-oligomers in the lower GI tract.
• Improves finished body weight and FCR.
• Enhances litter quality and reduces wet droppings.

 

BG-MANNAN®

BG-MANNAN™ contains Endo-1,4-β-mannanase (2,00,000 U/g) produced via fermentation.

Mode of Action:

• Degrades β-mannans (galactoglucomannans).
• Reduces intestinal viscosity.
• Improves glucose absorption and carbohydrate metabolism.
• Stimulates amino acid utilization and protein synthesis.

Functional Benefits:

• Improves digestion of protein, fat and carbohydrate.
• Supports regulation of immune mechanisms.
• Enhances livability and body weight uniformity.
• Allows reduction of added oil/M.E. without affecting nutritional balance.

 

BG-Pectin™

Pectins (polygalacturonides) are structural polysaccharides in soybean meal, rapeseed meal and sunflower meal.

BG-Pectin™:

• Degrades the pectin backbone (1→4 linked D-galacturonic acid units).
• Reduces viscosity caused by pectic substances.
• Improves feed utilization.
• Increases daily weight gain.
• Reduces feed conversion ratio.

It has broad pH range of activity and good thermostability suitable for pelleting.

 

BG-Cellulose™

BG-Cellulose™ is an endo-1,4-β-D-glucanase enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis of β-1,4 glucosidic linkages in cellulose.

Functional Role:

• Breaks plant cell wall structure.
• Converts fiber into low molecular metabolites.
• Releases wrapped nutrients from plant cells.
• Improves nutrient accessibility and absorption.

Benefits:

• Improves digestion and feed utilization.
• Enhances anti-stress capability.
• Increases daily weight gain and improves FCR.
• Reduces nutrient excretion in manure.
• Broad pH range and thermostable for pelleting.

 

XylaOpt

It is an intrinsically thermostable xylanase with optimal pH activity profile (5.6–7.0 range).

Mechanism:

• Targets arabinoxylan fraction in dietary fibre.
• Breaks long-chain arabinoxylans into shorter xylo-oligomers.
• Reduces digesta viscosity.
• Releases trapped nutrients.
• Improves nutrient diffusion and absorption.

Unique Attributes:

• Active throughout the gut.
• Not hydrolyzed by pepsin.
• Thermostable up to 95°C.
• Produces prebiotic xylo-oligomers that increase VFA production.
• Reduces feedstuff variability impact.

Outcome:

• Improved digestion and performance.
• Better litter consistency.
• Enhanced gut health and energy release.

 

Why Targeted NSP Enzymes in Poultry Improve Chicken Gut Performance

Using precise enzyme combinations helps break down complex fiber structures into simpler, digestible components. This:

• Reduces digesta viscosity
• Improves nutrient absorption
• Enhances amino acid and energy availability
• Supports healthier intestinal morphology
• Strengthens overall gut integrity

Improved digestion directly impacts growth rate, flock uniformity, litter quality, and immune strength. A healthier gut means birds can convert feed into muscle more efficiently while maintaining stronger resistance to environmental stress.

Building Profitability Through Smarter Gut Management

As antibiotic-free and sustainable production systems become the industry standard, enzyme-based nutritional strategies are gaining importance. Feed formulation is becoming more complex, often including alternative ingredients with higher fiber content.

ABTL’s NSP enzyme portfolio enables producers and feed manufacturers to:

• Maximize feed value
• Reduce feed cost per kilogram of gain
• Improve performance consistency
• Maintain healthy, productive flocks

Optimizing chicken gut health through targeted NSP enzyme supplementation is a strategic investment in long-term profitability.

With BG-XYLAN™, BG-Pectin™, BG-XYLANHT, BG Cellulose™, BG-Mannan®, and XylaOpt, ABTL Enzymes delivers scientifically backed enzyme solutions designed to unlock the full nutritional potential of modern poultry feed formulations.