Sunflower field transforming into broilers with enzyme rain.

Unlock Broiler Growth: The Sunflower Meal and Enzyme Secret

Samir D’Costa in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Can sunflower meal in broiler diets actually boost performance with a little help from enzymes? Here's the surprising science."

For poultry farmers, optimizing broiler diets is a never-ending quest. Conventional wisdom often leans on corn and soybean meal as the go-to energy and protein sources. But what if there's a readily available, cost-effective alternative? Enter sunflower meal, a byproduct of the oil industry, boasting a respectable 33% crude protein. Could this be the key to unlocking better broiler performance?

Sunflower meal isn't without its challenges. Its lower lysine and higher fiber content compared to soybean meal can limit its usability. This is where enzyme supplementation comes into play. Enzymes, particularly NSPase, are known to enhance broiler performance by improving feed intake, conversion, and weight gain. But how does this work with sunflower meal, and what are the real benefits for your flock?

A recent study published in the Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science dives deep into this topic. Researchers investigated the impact of different sunflower meal inclusion levels in broiler diets, with and without enzyme supplementation. The results? Quite revealing. Let’s explore how sunflower meal and enzymes could revolutionize your approach to broiler nutrition.

How Sunflower Meal and Enzymes Work Together for Broiler Growth

Sunflower field transforming into broilers with enzyme rain.

The study utilized 1200 Ross 308 broilers in a controlled experiment. The birds were divided into groups fed diets with varying levels of sunflower meal (6% and 8% in the grower phase, 10% and 16% in the finisher phase), with and without enzyme supplementation (cellulase, β-glucanase, and xylanase). The researchers meticulously tracked performance metrics, intestinal function, and carcass traits.

The findings highlighted a fascinating synergy between sunflower meal and enzymes:

Grower Phase Boost: Enzyme supplementation significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion ratio during the grower phase.
Finisher Phase Fine-Tuning: Sunflower meal inclusion at higher levels (10% and 16%) in the finisher phase negatively impacted weight gain unless enzymes were added.
Gut Health Matters: Sunflower meal increased ileal viscosity, but enzyme supplementation mitigated this effect, suggesting improved nutrient absorption.
Enzyme Impact: Sunflower meal reduced maltase activity, an enzyme crucial for breaking down sugars, but enzyme supplementation didn't counteract this reduction directly.

So, what does this mean for poultry farmers? The study suggests that sunflower meal can be a viable alternative to traditional protein sources, but careful management is key. High inclusion levels, particularly in the finisher phase, can hinder growth if not balanced with enzyme supplementation to maintain optimal gut health and nutrient absorption.

The Future of Broiler Diets

The research underscores the importance of tailoring broiler diets to specific growth phases and carefully considering the interplay between feed ingredients and enzyme supplementation. As the poultry industry seeks sustainable and cost-effective alternatives, sunflower meal, when strategically combined with enzymes, presents a promising avenue for enhancing broiler performance and optimizing production efficiency. Keep experimenting and watching the latest research, and you'll be well on your way to nurturing a healthier, more productive flock.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1590/1516-635x170125-30, Alternate LINK

Title: Performance And Some Intestinal Functions Of Broilers Fed Diets With Different Inclusion Levels Of Sunflower Meal And Supplemented Or Not With Enzymes

Subject: Animal Science and Zoology

Journal: Revista Brasileira de Ciência Avícola

Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)

Authors: Mp Horvatovic, D Glamocic, D Zikic, Td Hadnadjev

Published: 2015-03-01

Everything You Need To Know

How can sunflower meal be used in broiler diets to enhance growth?

Sunflower meal, a byproduct of the oil industry with about 33% crude protein, can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional protein sources like corn and soybean meal in broiler diets. However, due to its lower lysine and higher fiber content, it's crucial to supplement with enzymes like NSPase. This combination improves feed intake, conversion, and weight gain, particularly during the grower phase. Strategic use of sunflower meal, combined with enzyme supplementation can optimize broiler diets for enhanced growth.

What are the main challenges of using sunflower meal in broiler diets, and how can they be overcome?

The primary challenges of incorporating sunflower meal into broiler diets are its lower lysine content and higher fiber content compared to soybean meal. This can limit its usability and potentially hinder growth, especially in the finisher phase. To overcome these challenges, enzyme supplementation, particularly with NSPase, is essential. Enzymes help mitigate the negative effects of high fiber content by improving nutrient absorption and maintaining optimal gut health. Furthermore, the study indicates that higher levels of sunflower meal in the finisher phase (10% and 16%) require enzyme supplementation to avoid reduced weight gain.

How do enzymes like NSPase improve broiler performance when used with sunflower meal?

Enzymes, specifically NSPase (including cellulase, β-glucanase, and xylanase), enhance broiler performance by improving feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and weight gain. Sunflower meal increased ileal viscosity, but enzyme supplementation mitigated this effect, suggesting improved nutrient absorption. They counteract the negative effects of high fiber content in sunflower meal, promoting better nutrient absorption and overall gut health. By breaking down non-starch polysaccharides, NSPase enzymes make nutrients more accessible to the broilers. However, it's important to note that while sunflower meal reduced maltase activity, an enzyme crucial for breaking down sugars, enzyme supplementation didn't counteract this reduction directly.

What were the key findings of the Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science study on sunflower meal and enzyme supplementation in broilers?

The study revealed a synergy between sunflower meal and enzyme supplementation. It found that enzyme supplementation significantly improved weight gain and feed conversion ratio during the grower phase. In the finisher phase, higher inclusion levels of sunflower meal (10% and 16%) negatively impacted weight gain unless enzymes were added. The study also showed that sunflower meal increased ileal viscosity, which was mitigated by enzyme supplementation, suggesting improved nutrient absorption. This underscores the importance of tailoring broiler diets to specific growth phases and considering the interplay between feed ingredients and enzyme supplementation.

What is the significance of the interaction between sunflower meal, intestinal function, and enzyme supplementation in broiler diets, and what are the broader implications for the poultry industry?

The interaction between sunflower meal, intestinal function, and enzyme supplementation is critical because sunflower meal's high fiber content can increase ileal viscosity, potentially hindering nutrient absorption and overall gut health. Enzyme supplementation mitigates this effect, improving nutrient absorption and maintaining gut health. The broader implications for the poultry industry are significant. As the industry seeks sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to traditional protein sources, sunflower meal, when strategically combined with enzymes, presents a promising avenue for enhancing broiler performance and optimizing production efficiency. This approach requires careful management and tailoring of diets to specific growth phases, but it can lead to a healthier, more productive flock.