Hemicellulase Enzyme for Animal Feed Digestibility
Reduce digesta viscosity and improve nutrient absorption in wheat, rye, and barley-based poultry and swine diets by hydrolysing arabinoxylan non-starch polysaccharides.
In monogastric animal nutrition, non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs) — particularly arabinoxylan in wheat, rye, and barley — are a significant anti-nutritional factor. Arabinoxylan forms a gel-like matrix in the gut, raising digesta viscosity and slowing nutrient transit. This reduces glucose and amino acid absorption, lowers energy utilisation, and depresses feed conversion ratios (FCR). For poultry operations, the effect is visible as wet litter, enteric challenges, and inconsistent bird performance. In swine, high-viscosity digesta limits nutrient accessibility and adds pressure to gut microbiota stability. Hemicellulase — a dual xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) and mannanase (EC 3.2.1.78) complex — targets these arabinoxylan chains by cleaving beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds in the xylan backbone and alpha-1,2/1,3 arabinosyl side branches. This depolymerisation lowers viscosity in the gut lumen and releases xylo-oligosaccharides that may act as prebiotics, further benefiting microbial balance. Effective at pH 4.0–6.5 and 40–60°C, it maintains activity through standard feed conditioning and pelleting at up to 80°C for short durations in thermostabilised grades. Commercial dosage rates in poultry diets typically range from 100–300 g/tonne of finished feed, adjusted for arabinoxylan load, cereal fraction, and target FCR gain. Swine diets may require different titration depending on intestinal transit rate and gut pH profile. For feed millers and nutritionists evaluating xylanase hemicellulase enzyme for animal feed, the key procurement metrics include confirmed xylanase activity (U/g), pH-activity profile, heat stability data, and whether the formulation includes mannanase for legume-containing diets. Our hemicellulase is produced by Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Aspergillus niger via submerged fermentation, supplied at 10,000–50,000 U/g with full COA, TDS, and MSDS documentation.
Wheat and Rye Broiler Diets
Wheat and rye contain 6–9% arabinoxylan, the most viscosity-active NSP in poultry digesta. Hemicellulase at 150–250 g/tonne cleaves xylan into shorter fragments, reducing jejunal viscosity by 30–50%, improving glucose and amino acid absorption, and tightening FCR by 2–5 points in typical broiler trials. Water activity in litter improves as viscous digesta is reduced.
Barley-Based Poultry Rations
Barley carries both beta-glucan and arabinoxylan, which together create the highest viscosity burden of any cereal grain. Hemicellulase targets the arabinoxylan fraction while synergising with beta-glucanase activity present in some blends. Dosage of 200–350 g/tonne is typically used in high-barley diets, with activity confirmed at pH 4.5–6.0 matching intestinal conditions in broilers and layers.
Swine Grower-Finisher Diets
Wheat, triticale, and rye NSPs reduce ileal digestibility of protein and starch in swine. Hemicellulase applied at 100–200 g/tonne in grower-finisher rations breaks down arabinoxylan, releasing fermentable sugars and improving apparent ileal digestibility of amino acids by 2–4 percentage points. Particularly valuable when co-product fractions such as wheat bran or DDGS raise the xylan load.
Pelleted Feed Thermostabilised Grades
Standard conditioning at 70–80°C during pelleting can reduce enzyme activity. For high-temperature pelleting lines, thermostabilised hemicellulase grades are recommended, offering retained activity of >80% after 30-second conditioning at 75°C. Buyers should specify pelleting temperature and duration to ensure the correct grade is supplied, and validate residual activity using a post-pellet assay.
| Parameter | Value |
| Activity range | 10,000 – 50,000 U/g (xylanase basis) |
| Optimal pH | 4.0 – 6.5 |
| Optimal temperature | 40°C – 60°C |
| Form | Light brown powder |
| Shelf life | 12 months (sealed, cool, dry place) |
| Packaging | 25 kg drums / custom packaging |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hemicellulase enzyme do in animal feed?
Hemicellulase breaks down arabinoxylan and mannan NSPs in cereal-based feed ingredients. In the gut, these polysaccharides raise digesta viscosity and reduce nutrient accessibility. By hydrolysing xylan chains into shorter fragments, hemicellulase lowers intestinal viscosity, improves nutrient absorption efficiency, and can support better feed conversion ratio in poultry and swine. The xylo-oligosaccharide fragments produced may also offer prebiotic benefits to the gut microbiome.
Which grains benefit most from hemicellulase in animal feed?
Wheat, rye, triticale, and barley have the highest arabinoxylan content among feed cereals. Rye is the most problematic, with up to 9% arabinoxylan. Barley also contains significant beta-glucan, so a combined hemicellulase and beta-glucanase approach is often used. Corn-based diets contain less arabinoxylan, so hemicellulase shows lower relative effect in corn-soy formulations compared to cereal-dominant rations.
What dosage of hemicellulase is typical for poultry diets?
Typical inclusion rates are 100–300 g/tonne of finished feed for poultry, depending on the cereal fraction and target FCR improvement. Higher wheat or rye inclusion warrants the upper end of this range. Swine diets are often dosed at 100–200 g/tonne. Exact dosage should be validated through in-house trials or with the support of the enzyme supplier, who can provide substrate-specific activity guidance.
Is hemicellulase stable through pelleting conditioning?
Standard hemicellulase formulations retain meaningful activity at conditioning temperatures up to 70–75°C for short durations. For operations running higher conditioning temperatures or extended steam exposure, thermostabilised grades with protective coating are available. Always request heat stability data from the supplier and validate residual post-pellet activity using a xylanase assay on representative pellet samples.
Get Hemicellulase for Your Feed Program
Provide your application (baking, feed, pulp, brewing, coffee, biomass), target pH/temperature, and annual volume. We will recommend an activity grade, ship a 100 g free sample with COA and TDS, and quote bulk pricing within 24 hours.
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