Enzymes play an important role in enhancing feed utilisation and reducing feed cost. Phytase,
for example, is a proven technology used to release some of the non-digestible phosphorus
and reduce excretion of this element, thereby reducing the cost of inorganic phosphorus
supplementation. Protease, on the other hand, is effective in releasing protein
anti-nutrients found in some feed ingredients such as soybean, thereby making dietary
protein more available. When other enzymes such as amylase and xylanase are
incorporated into the diet, there would be around a 3-5% increase in the feed energy
available to the bird. Typically, enzymes supplementation costs around $1.5 per tonne of
feed, but feed costs can be reduced by $2.5 per tonne in low energy layer diets to over
$4.0 per tonne in high energy turkey diets.