Xylanase

“Xylanase is the name given to a class of enzymes which degrade the linear polysaccharide beta-1,4-xylan into xylose, thus breaking down hemicellulose which is a major component of the cell wall of plants.”

 

"An enzyme that breaks down xylans"

The positive effects of adding xylanases to wheat, rye and tritcale-based animal feeds has been known for over 20 years, with the first commercial use in UK wheat-based broiler feeds in 1989.  Research at that time established that the main mode of action in xylanases in poultry fed diets based on these cereals was the reduction in digesta viscosity caused primarily by soluble cereal xylans.  However, it was also apparent that xylanases opened up the arabinoxylan-rich aleurone and endosperm cell walls in cereals to release entrapped nutrients while at the same time releasing xylo-oligosaccharides that can have a positive influence on intestinal bacteria.

Xylanases are known to increase protein digestibility in wheat and this is attributed particularly to the release of protein from the xylan-rich thick cell-walled protein-rich aleurone layer.

Xylans are a major component of the fibre in cell walls in both viscous (wheat, rye, barley) and non-viscous (corn and sorghum) cereals.  Thus the addition of xylanases to monogastric diets based on such cereals would be expected to improve animal performance. 

The potential of specific enzymes to improve animal performance has been known for over 50 years.  However, costs and application difficulties initially prevented widespread use in commercial feeds until the early 1980’s when the use of beta-glucanases in barley-based poultry diets became common in Scandinavia.  This was quickly followed by the use of xylanses in wheat-based and then corn-based diets.  Today the world feed enzyme market is probably worth in excess of US$500m per annum.

Non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) enzymes were first developed and used in barley and then subsequently wheat based diets.  Their use coincided with an almost immediate and visible improvement in litter quality and an equally evident improvement in performance.  NSPs function through a composite of three separate activities, the contribution of each activity varying with ingredients and individual birds.  These activities include plant cell wall destruction, reduction of viscosity and stimulation of beneficial bacteria.

The AB Vista range of NSP enzymes is covered by the Econase brand.  To find out more, visit the Econase section using the right hand menu.