Special enzymes called xylanase and β-glucanase, combined with phytase, significantly improve intestinal health in young chickens eating high-fiber grains like rye and barley. According to Gram Research analysis of a 180-bird randomized controlled trial, enzyme-treated chickens had intestinal leakage similar to control birds and maintained normal growth rates, despite eating difficult-to-digest grains that normally damage their intestines.
When young chickens eat grains like rye and barley that are hard to digest, their intestines can get damaged and they don’t grow as well. Researchers tested whether adding special enzymes to their food could help. According to Gram Research analysis, adding a combination of two enzymes (xylanase and β-glucanase) along with phytase significantly improved gut health and helped the chickens grow normally, even when eating these difficult grains. This finding could help farmers raise healthier chickens without sacrificing growth.
Key Statistics
A randomized controlled trial of 180 young broilers found that combining xylanase-β-glucanase enzymes with phytase reduced intestinal leakage to normal levels in chickens fed high-fiber rye and barley diets, matching the health of birds on standard grain diets.
In a 2026 study published in Veterinary and Animal Science, enzyme-supplemented young chickens maintained normal growth rates when fed difficult-to-digest grains, with the enzyme combination reducing digesta viscosity and restoring intestinal barrier function.
Research on 180 broiler chicks showed that phytase combined with xylanase and β-glucanase enzymes prevented the intestinal damage typically caused by high-fiber grain diets, allowing farmers to use cheaper grain sources without sacrificing bird performance.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether special enzymes added to chicken feed could help young chickens digest tough grains better and stay healthy
- Who participated: 180 male baby chickens (Ross 308 breed) divided into 5 groups, each eating different diets for the first two weeks of life
- Key finding: Chickens that received both enzyme combinations had significantly better intestinal health and normal growth, even when eating rye and barley that normally cause problems
- What it means for you: If you raise chickens or work in poultry farming, this suggests that enzyme supplements can allow you to use cheaper, harder-to-digest grains without harming bird health or growth. However, this research is specific to very young chickens in controlled conditions.
The Research Details
Researchers divided 180 baby chickens into 5 groups with different diets. One group ate a standard diet (the control). Another group ate a diet with added rye and barley, which are grains high in tough fiber that chickens struggle to digest. The remaining three groups ate the difficult grain diet but with different enzyme supplements added. All chickens were fed the same amount of food and watched for 14 days. The researchers measured how well their intestines worked, how much food they ate, how much they grew, and whether their intestines were leaking (a sign of damage).
This type of study is called a randomized controlled trial, which is one of the strongest ways to test if something actually works. By comparing groups that only differed in what enzymes they received, researchers could see exactly what effect the enzymes had.
The study used a specific statistical design to make sure results were reliable and that differences between groups were real, not just random chance.
Young chickens have intestines that are still developing and are more sensitive to problems than adult chickens. When they eat grains with high fiber content, the fiber makes their digested food thicker and stickier, which damages their intestinal lining and prevents them from absorbing nutrients properly. This research matters because it tests whether enzymes can solve this problem naturally, without antibiotics or other medications.
This study has several strengths: it used a large number of animals (180), had multiple treatment groups to compare, and measured multiple important outcomes. The study was randomized and controlled, which are hallmarks of reliable research. However, the study only lasted 14 days and only tested one breed of chicken, so results may not apply to all situations or older birds. The research was published in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning other experts reviewed it before publication.
What the Results Show
Chickens fed the difficult grain diet without enzyme supplements (the negative control) had significantly worse intestinal health compared to chickens on the standard diet. Their intestines were leaking more, meaning the intestinal barrier was damaged. However, when researchers added the enzyme combination (xylanase and β-glucanase) along with phytase to the difficult grain diet, the intestinal leakage dropped dramatically and became similar to the control group eating the standard diet.
The thickness of the digested food in the chickens’ intestines (called viscosity) was also much lower in the enzyme-treated groups. This is important because thicker, stickier digested food damages the intestinal lining. The enzyme combination essentially made the difficult grains easier to break down and move through the digestive system.
Most importantly, chickens that received the full enzyme treatment grew normally and gained weight at the same rate as chickens eating the standard diet. This means the enzymes allowed farmers to use cheaper, harder-to-digest grains without sacrificing chicken growth or health.
The study found that using phytase alone (without the xylanase and β-glucanase) helped somewhat, but not as much as the full enzyme combination. This suggests that different enzymes work together to solve different parts of the digestion problem. The double dose of the enzyme combination (XB200) worked slightly better than the single dose (XB100), but the difference was small, suggesting that the single dose was already quite effective.
Previous research has shown that high-fiber grains damage young chicken intestines, but this study is among the first to demonstrate that a specific combination of enzymes can fully restore intestinal health and growth performance. The findings align with earlier studies showing that individual enzymes help, but this research shows that combining them is more effective than using them separately.
This study only tested very young chickens (0-14 days old) of one breed, so results may not apply to older chickens or different breeds. The study lasted only two weeks, so we don’t know if the benefits continue longer. The research was done in controlled laboratory conditions, which may differ from real farm environments. Additionally, the study doesn’t explain exactly how the enzymes work at the molecular level, only that they do work.
The Bottom Line
For poultry farmers: Consider using enzyme supplements (specifically xylanase and β-glucanase combined with phytase) when feeding young chickens diets containing high-fiber grains like rye and barley. This appears to be an effective strategy with strong evidence from this controlled study. Confidence level: Moderate to High for young broilers in similar conditions. For consumers: This research doesn’t directly affect what you eat, but it may help farmers produce chicken more sustainably by using cheaper grains.
Poultry farmers and feed manufacturers should care most about this research, as it directly affects their operations. Veterinarians working with poultry may also find this useful. This research is specific to young chickens and may not apply to other animals or to older birds.
The benefits appeared within the first two weeks of life, suggesting that enzyme supplements work quickly. Farmers would likely see improvements in growth rates and feed efficiency within days of adding the enzymes to feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can enzymes help chickens digest difficult grains better?
Yes. A 2026 study of 180 young chickens found that xylanase and β-glucanase enzymes combined with phytase significantly reduced intestinal damage and improved digestion when birds ate high-fiber grains like rye and barley, restoring normal growth.
What happens to chickens when they eat grains with high fiber?
High-fiber grains make digested food thicker and stickier in the intestines, damaging the intestinal lining and preventing nutrient absorption. This causes poor growth and intestinal leakage, but enzyme supplements can prevent these problems.
How quickly do enzyme supplements work in young chickens?
Enzyme benefits appeared within the first two weeks of life in this study. Chickens receiving enzyme supplements showed improved intestinal health and normal growth rates within days of dietary changes.
Is this enzyme treatment safe for chickens?
This study found no negative effects from the enzyme supplements. Chickens receiving enzymes grew normally and showed improved intestinal health, suggesting the treatment is safe for young broilers.
Can farmers save money by using these enzymes with cheaper grains?
Potentially yes. By allowing use of cheaper, high-fiber grains without sacrificing chicken growth or health, enzyme supplements may reduce feed costs, though the cost of enzymes themselves must be factored into the calculation.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If managing a poultry operation, track daily weight gain, feed consumption, and mortality rates before and after adding enzyme supplements to compare performance.
- Switch from standard grain mixes to enzyme-supplemented difficult grain diets for young birds, recording the specific enzyme doses used and monitoring results weekly.
- Maintain a log of intestinal health indicators (if visible), growth metrics, and feed costs over 4-week periods to assess long-term enzyme effectiveness and cost-benefit.
This research specifically applies to young broiler chickens (0-14 days old) in controlled laboratory conditions. Results may not apply to older birds, different chicken breeds, or farm environments that differ from the study conditions. Farmers should consult with poultry nutritionists or veterinarians before making feed changes. This research does not apply to human nutrition or health. Always follow manufacturer guidelines for enzyme supplement dosing and storage.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.