International Journal of Poultry Science1682-83561994-7992Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/ijps.2018.243.248HarnkaewChonladda BunchasakChaiyapoom RakangthongChoawit SukontasingSirapan PoeikhamphaTheerawit 52018175Background and Objective: The carbohydrates in soybean meal consist of approximately 10% oligosaccharides and are linked by an α-1,6 galactosidase bond which cannot be broken down in the small intestine of monogastric animals due to the absence of endogenous α-1,6 galactosidase. This experiment was conducted to determine the effect of α-galactosidase supplementation in the laying hen diet on egg performance, egg quality and dietary digestibility. Methodology: A total of 576 Lohmann brown-classic hens (28 weeks old) were divided into 3 groups of 8 replications with 24 hens each. This experiment design was completely randomized design and there were 3 experimental diets, (1) Positive control diet, (2) Positive control diet decreased by 88 kcal kg1 ME and supplemented with α-galactosidase at 0.022 and (3) Positive control decreased by 88 kcal kg1 ME without any supplementation of α-galactosidase (negative control). Results: At the end of the 16 weeks of feeding trial, using α-galactosidase significantly improved egg production (p<0.05), egg mass (p<0.05), feed conversion ratio (FCR, p<0.01) and feed cost per egg (p<0.05), similar to the positive control. Feeding with α-galactosidase significantly improved the specific gravity (p<0.01), shell thickness (p<0.05), eggshell weight (<0.05) and tended to improve dietary digestibility (p<0.10) and decrease retention time in the gastro-intestinal tract (p<0.05). In addition, the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) increased (p<0.01) by α-galactosidase when compared to the negative control. However, the dietary treatment did not influence the other parameters of egg quality and feces score. Conclusion: Supplementation of α-galactosidase with reducing the metabolizable energy improved egg production performance, egg quality and feed digestibility.]]>USDA.,20092009Choct, M.,199771326Choct, M., Y. Dersjant-Li, J. McLeish and M. Peisker,20102313861398Gitzelmann, R. and S. Auriccio,196536231235Grieshop, C.M., C.T. Kadzere, G.M. Clapper, E.A. Flickinger, L.L. Bauer, R.L. Frazier and G.C. Fahey Jr.,20035176847691Coon, C.N., K.L. Leske, O. Akavanichan and T.K. Cheng,199069787793Scheideler, S.E. and T. Weber,20032003Perryman, K.R., H. Olanrewaju and W.A. Dozier III,20139212921304Ao, T., A.H. Cantor, A.J. Pescatore, M.J. Ford, J.L. Pierce and K.A. Dawson,200988111117Waldroup, P.W., C.A. Keen, F. Yan and K. Zhang,2006154857Graham, K.K., M.S. Kerley, J.D. Firman and G.L. Allee,20028110141019Roberts, J.R. and W. Ball,20032003Maynard, L.A. and J.K. Loosli,19564th Edn.,pp: 484pp: 484Gerhold, R.W., A.L. Fuller, R.B. Beckstead and L.R. McDougald,2010Colinus virginianus) with Eimeria lettyae provides protection against a high-dose challenge.]]>5412201223Scott, T.A. and F. Boldaji,199776594598Duncan, D.B.,195511142Kidd, M.T., Jr.G.W. Morgan, C.D. Zumwalt, C.J. Price, P.A. Welch, F.L. Brinkhaus and E.A. Fontana,200110186193Sloan, D.R., R.H. Harms, A.G. Abdullah and K.K. Kuchinski,200018121128Knudsen, K.E.B.,199767319338Knap, I.H., A. Ohmann and N. Dale,1996Aspergillus sp.) to soybean meal-based diets.]]>1996pp: 153156Zhang, B., Y. Cao, Y. Chen, Y. Li, S. Qiao and Y. Ma,20102313401347