Effect of Potenmic on Nutrient Digestibility and Energy utilization in Broiler chicks fed a Low Crude Protein-Metabolizable Energy Diet

Abstract

The present study evaluated the efficacy of POTENMIC in improving nutrient digestibility and energy utilization in broiler chicks fed a reduced crude protein-metabolizable energy (CP-ME) diet. Conducted over 35 days at the University of Agriculture Peshawar, the trial employed 150 one-day-old broiler chicks distributed into five treatments: (1) Positive control (PC)with standard diet (22% CP, 3000 kcal/kg ME), (2) Negative control (NC)with low-protein diet (19% CP, 2900 kcal/kg ME), and (3–5) NC diets supplemented with POTENMIC at varying doses (NCPot1–NCPot3). Each treatment comprised three replicates (10 birds each), and birds were raised under uniform management conditions. Digestibility trials were conducted at 21 (grower phase) and 35 days (finisher phase) to determine crude protein (CP) retention and apparent metabolizable energy (AME) using total excreta collection methods. Dietary supplementation with POTENMIC significantly (P < 0.05) improved CP digestibility, with the highest values recorded in NCPot1 (21 days: 78.3%; 35 days: 82.1%) compared to NC (21 days: 70.5%; 35 days: 73.8%). Similarly, AME values were elevated (P < 0.05) in POTENMIC groups, particularly in NCPot1 (21 days: 2950 kcal/kg; 35 days: 3020 kcal/kg), underscoring its role in enhancing energy efficiency. The NC group exhibited the lowest nutrient utilization, confirming the challenges of low-protein diets. POTENMIC supplementation at 1 mL/1.5–3 L of water optimizes protein digestion and energy metabolism in broilers fed suboptimal diets, offering a viable strategy to reduce feed costs without compromising performance. This study provides critical insights into sustainable poultry nutrition strategies.