Post by Behnam Saremi

🔍 Proteases in broiler nutrition: Are we focusing too much on matrix values and too little on biological risk? There is little doubt that proteases have become an important tool in modern poultry nutrition. The scientific literature consistently shows improvements in: ✅ Protein digestibility ✅ Amino acid utilization ✅ Feed conversion ratio (FCR) ✅ Nitrogen efficiency and sustainability However, the literature also highlights something equally important: The response to proteases is highly variable. The actual benefit depends on: • Ingredient quality • Soybean meal processing conditions • Bird age • Diet composition • Crude protein level • Presence of other enzymes • Production environment This raises an important question for nutritionists: 👉 Are we using proteases primarily to improve nutrient utilization, or are we increasingly relying on them to justify more aggressive nutrient reductions? In broiler starter diets, the first 10–14 days represent one of the most critical phases of production. During this period, chicks have limited feed intake, an immature digestive system, and little opportunity to recover from nutritional shortcomings. When matrix values become too optimistic, the risk is not a "protease deficiency." The risk is a hidden deficiency of digestible amino acids and energy. This is particularly relevant in today's low crude protein diets, where safety margins for Lys, Met+Cys, Thr, Val, Ile, Arg, His, and Trp are already being reduced to maximize formulation efficiency. Perhaps the most balanced conclusion from the literature is: 💡 Proteases are highly valuable digestibility enhancers, but amino acid nutrition remains the foundation of broiler performance. The most successful feeding programs are likely those that use proteases to improve nutrient utilization while maintaining adequate nutritional safety margins—especially during the starter phase, where growth potential is established for the entire production cycle. What is your experience? Have you observed situations where aggressive protease matrices delivered the expected results—or where they may have compromised early broiler performance? #PoultryNutrition #BroilerNutrition #Protease #FeedEnzymes #AnimalNutrition #FeedFormulation #LowProteinDiets #AminoAcids #PoultryScience #FeedEfficiency