Enzyme Supplementation Effects on Nutrient Digestibility in Swine

Enzyme supplementation in swine nutrition encompasses the addition of exogenous biocatalysts—such as carbohydrases, proteases and phytases—to diets in order to enhance the breakdown of complex feed components, mitigate anti-nutritional factors and unlock otherwise inaccessible nutrients. By targeting non-starch polysaccharides, protein–carbohydrate complexes and phytate complexes, these enzymes optimise the release of energy, amino acids, minerals and fermentable substrates. The resultant improvements in apparent nutrient digestibility underpin gains in growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass quality, while supporting intestinal morphology, barrier integrity and a balanced microbiome. Beyond animal productivity, enzyme use carries global significance through reduced feed costs, lower excreted nutrient loads and mitigated greenhouse-gas emissions, aligning with sustainable livestock production goals.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A recent study explored supplementation of β-mannanase in grower-pig diets already containing xylanase and phytase but reduced in metabolizable energy. Inclusion of β-mannanase at levels corresponding to 85–100 kcal spared per kilogram diet maintained growth performance despite energy dilution and significantly increased apparent total tract digestibility of dry matter and crude protein. Pigs receiving the highest enzyme allocation exhibited shifts in their faecal microbiome—marked by increased Bacteroidaceae and Prevotella alongside reduced Streptococcus—and demonstrated modulated systemic inflammation, as evidenced by lower serum interleukin-1β and stabilised interleukin-10 levels. The findings highlight β-mannanase as a tool to enhance energy efficiency and nutrient utilisation, while exerting beneficial effects on gut microbial profiles and immune status in swine.

Enzyme Supplementation Effects on Nutrient Digestibility in Swine publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in enzyme supplementation effects on nutrient digestibility in swine across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD): The proportion of a nutrient or energy component absorbed by the animal over the entire digestive tract, expressed as a percentage of intake minus excreta.

Non-starch polysaccharides (NSP): Complex carbohydrates in plant cell walls—such as cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin—that resist endogenous digestion in swine and can limit nutrient access.

β-Mannanase: An enzyme that hydrolyses β-1,4-mannan linkages in hemicellulose, reducing viscous mannans and releasing mannooligosaccharides.

Xylanase: A carbohydrase that cleaves β-1,4-xylosidic bonds in arabinoxylans, thereby lowering intestinal viscosity and generating fermentable xylo-oligosaccharides.

Processive endoglucanase: A specialised cellulase that repeatedly cleaves internal glycosidic bonds along a polysaccharide chain without dissociating, enhancing fibre breakdown efficiency.

References

1. Enzymatically hydrolyzed diet improves growth performance and intestinal microbiome in growing pigs. Frontiers in Nutrition (2024).
2. Monomodular and multifunctional processive endocellulases: implications for swine nutrition and gut microbiome. Animal Microbiome (2024).
3. β-mannanase supplemented in diets saved 85 to 100 kcal of metabolizable energy/kg, supporting growth performance and improving nutrient digestibility in grower pigs. Scientific Reports (2023).
4. Xylanase supplementation in corn-based swine diets: a review with emphasis on potential mechanisms of action. Journal of Animal Science (2020).